Effect of Intervention in Mast Cell Function Before Reperfusion on Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Mast cells are sparsely distributed in the kidneys under normal conditions; however, the number of mast cells increases dramatically during renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (RI/RI). When mast cells are stimulated, numerous mediators are released, and under pathological conditions, they produce a wide range of biological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of intervention in mast cell function before reperfusion on RI/RI. METHODS Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (n=50) were randomized into five groups: sham group, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) group, cromolyn sodium treatment group (CS+I/R group), ketotifen treatment group (K+I/Rgroup), and compound 48/80 treatment group (C+I/R group). I/R injury was induced by bilateral renal artery and vein occlusion for 45 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion. The agents were intravenously administered 5 min before reperfusion through the tail vein. The serum levels of blood urea nitrogen(BUN), serum creatinine (Scr) and histamine and the kidney levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were assessed. The expression of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in renal tissue was also measured. RESULTS I/R injury resulted in severe renal injury, as demonstrated by a large increase in injury scores; serum levels of BUN, Scr and histamine; and kidney levels of MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6; this was accompanied by reduced SOD activity and upregulated ICAM-1 expression. Treatment with cromolyn sodium or ketotifen markedly alleviated I/R-mediated kidney injury, whereas compound 48/80 further aggravated kidney injury. CONCLUSION Intervention in mast cell activity prior to reperfusionhas a strong effect on RI/RI.