Prevention of renal injury after induction of ozone tolerance in rats submitted to warm ischaemia

Author E. Barber1
Author S. Menéndez2
Author O.S. León3
Author M.0. Barber1
Author N. Merino3
Author J.L. Calunga2
Author E. Cruz1
Author V. Bocci**CA
Publication 1Institute of Basic and Preclinical Sciences ‘Victoria de Giron’, Havana
Publication 20zone Research Center, P.O. Box 6880, Havana
Publication 2‘National Center for Scientific Research, Havana, Cuba
Publication ‘Institute of General Physiology, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Italy
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Prevention of renal injury after induction of ozone tolerance in rats submitted to warm ischaemia

Research Paper

On the basis that ozone (03) can upregulate cellular antioxidant enzymes, a morphological, biochemical and functional renal study was performed in rats undergoing a prolonged treatment with O3 before renal ischaemia. Rats were divided into four groups: (1) control, a medial abdominal incision was per­formed to expose the kidneys; (2) Ischaemia, in animals undergoing a bilateral renal ischaemia (30 min), with subsequent reperfusion (3 h); (3) O3 + ischaemia, as group 2, but with previous treatment wich O3 (0.5mg/kg per day given in 2.5 ml O2 via rectal administration for 15 treatments; (4) O2 + ischaemia, as group 3, but using oxygen (O2 alone. Biochemical parameters as fructosamine level, phospholipase A, and superoxide dismutases (SOD) activ­ities, as well as renal plasma flow (RPF) and glo-merular filtration rate (GFR), were measured by means of plasma clearance of p-amino-hippurate and inulin, respectively. In comparison with groups 1 and 3, the RPF and GFR were significantly decreased in groups 2 and 4. Interestingly, renal homogenates of the latter groups yielded significantly higher values of phospholipase A activity and fructosamine level in comparison with either the control (1) and the O3 (3) treated groups. Moreover renal SOD activity showed a significant increase in group 3 without significant differences among groups 1, 2 and 4; Morphological alterations of the kidney were present in 100, 88 and 30% of the animals in groups 2, 4 and 3, respectively. It is proposed that the 03 protective effect can be ascribed to the substantial possibility of upregulating the antioxidant defense system capable of counteracting the damaging effect of ischaemia. These findings suggest that, whenever possible, ozone preconditioning may represent a prophylactic approach for minimizing renal damage before transplantation.

Introduction

Tissue ischaemia followed by reperfusion with oxy­genated blood occurs in a number of clinical situa­tions. In order to improve the success rate of renal transplantation, the timing of warm and cold ischae­mia is a major determinant for the kidney’s viability.1,2 After reimplantation, owing to reperfusion with oxygenated blood, the ischaemic kidney may develop tubular necrosis and the recipient needs to undergo dialysis. Furthermore, in order to avoid rejection, treatment with immunosuppressor drugs may, on one side worsen the renal damage, or become overtly toxic.1 Thus any prophylactic approach aiming at preserving the kidney is of a crucial importance. Recent advances in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of post-ischaemic injury have suggested that tissue injury is associated with higher oxygen (O2) tension in the tissue at the time of reperfusion.2i3 The reoxygenation leads to a massive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated through several cytoplasmatic or mitochondrial mechanisms, inducing an unbalance between oxidants and anti-oxidants, i.e. an oxidant stress, which contributes to tissue injury.2,4-6 ROS among which superoxide anion   (02-.) hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (OH.), not only can damage cells by oxidizing nucleic acids, proteins and polyunsaturated lipids,7 but may ultimately lead to cell death. There is no doubt that ROS, if unquenched, can compromise renal function by impairing glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption.8 In normal conditions, cells contain a powerful and articulate endogenous defense against ROS9 such as

antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase, or nonenzymatic components such as ascorbic and uric acid, reduced glutathione, [3-car-otene, lycopene, vitamin E, bilirubin, etc.289 In several pathologic situations and after ischaemia, these defence mechanisms can be overwhelmed allowing the ROS to exert their deleterious effect.2

Taking into account that ischaemia-reperfusion is a process largely mediated by ROS generation2-6 and that a prolonged and judicious administration of 0} is able to stimulate the endogenous antioxidant sys­tems,11-14 and thereby to oppose the oxidative stress, we thought it worthwhile assessing renal morphology and function and a few biochemical parameters in rats undergoing a controlled, warm renal ischaemia.

Materials and methods

Animals and sample preparation

Forty adult male Wistar rats (250-260 g) were main­tained in an air filtered and temperature conditioned room (20-22°C) with a relative humidity of 50-52%. Rats were fed with a standard commercial diet and water ad libitum. 03 was generated by an OZOMED equipment (Ozone Research Center, Cuba), from medical grade oxygen by means of a silent electric discharge, representing about 3% of the gas mixture (O3 + O2). Rats received 15 ozone treatments, by rectal insufflation, performed with a suitable polythene cannula connected to a syringe, once daily, 2.5-2.6 ml with O3 concentration of 50 µg/ml (representing a dose of 0.5 mg/kg weight), before the renal ischaemia-reperfusion damage. This schedule and 03 dosing has prove to be optimal in a previous study.13

Under constant sodium pentobarbitol anaesthesia, after a renal ischaemia of 30 min, we allowed a reperfusion period of exactly 3 h. Heparin (50 U) was administered via the subcutaneous route. Imme­diately thereafter, within the following 10 min we assessed the renal plasma flow (RPF) and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by means of plasma clearance of p-amino-hippurate (PAH) and inulin, respectively. A constant plasma concentration of both substances was used (2 mg of PAH and 20 mg of inulin in 100 ml of saline solution) by a continuous perfusion through the left femoral vein a.t a rate of 0.15 ml/ min, after a loading dose of 0.8 ml of PAH (12 mg/mJ) and 0.8ml of inulin (2 mg/mJ). For these analyses, blood was withdrawn by intracardiac puncture and urine was collected from the bladder. Thereafter the rats were euthanized under deep anaesthesia. Repre­sentative samples of different kidney portions were taken for histopathological studies and tissue homogenates. Kidney homogenates were obtained using a tissue homogenator Edmund Bulher LBMA at 4oC. The homogenates were prepared in 50 mM KCI/histidine

buffer pH 7,4, 1:10 (w/v) and were spun down with a Sigma Centrifuge 2K15, at 4oC and 8500 X g for 20 min. The supernatants were used for biochemical determinations.

Treatment schedule and renal ischaemia

The protocol consisted of four experimental groups of 10 animals each as follows: (1) negative group (control): animals were anaesthetized, using sodium pentobarbital at doses of 30 mg/kg of weight, receiv­ing 50 IU of heparin by intraperitoneal injection. Afterwards, a laparotomy was performed for the sham exposure of the kidneys with successive laparorrhaphy; (2) positive group (ischaemia): animals were processed in the same way as group 1, but after the kidney exposition they were submitted to a bilateral renal ischaemia. Both renal arteries were cross-damped for 30 min, with subsequent reperfusion during 3h, before the morphological, functional and biochemical renal study; (3) O3 group (O2 + O3 and ischaemia) received the same procedure as group 2, but the animals had been treated daily, during the previous 15 days, with insufflation via rectal route, using a gas mixture composed of 02 + 03; (4) O2 group (02 and ischaemia) with the same procedure of group 3, but insufflating only 02 (13 rng/kg weight) instead of the gas mixture composed of 02 + O3.

Bio-chemical determinations

PAH and inulin were determined in deproteinated plasma and urine samples by cadmium sulphate,15 using for PAH the photocolorimetric technique as modified by Smith and Tinkelstein.16 Inulin was measured by the direct method of resorcinol without alkaline treatment.17

Kidney homogenates were assayed for total SOD (Cu/Zn and Mn SOD) activity determining the capac­ity of the enzyme of inhibiting the autoxidation of pyrogallol by 50%.18 The phospholipase A activity was determined according to a standard procedure19 and both enzymatic activities have been expressed as U/g protein. The proteins were measured by a standard Coomassie blue method.20 Fructosamine was deter­mined by means of a colorimetric procedure21 and values represent the difference in units of optical density in respect of renal tissue (g).

Histological study

Samples of rat kidneys of the different groups were taken and fixed in neutral 10% formalin, processed and embedded in paraffin. The histological sections, stained with haematoxylin and eosin, were examined by a pathologist unaware of the treatment schedule. Differences among groups were evaluated with a non-parametric test (Fischer’s test).

Statistical analysis

The statistical analysis was started by using the OUTLIERS preliminary tests for detection of error values. Afterward the Anova method (single way) was used followed by homogeneity variance test (Bartlett-Box). In addition, a multiple comparison test was used (Duncan’s test) and for the comparison of two groups, the Student’s t-test was done. Values are expressed by the mean ± standard error (n = 10 per group). Different letters indicate a statistical sig­nificance of at least P < 0.05.

Results

Figure 1 shows the renal plasma flow measured by means of the clearance of’ PAH. A significant decrease of PAH clearance was observed in groups 2 (ischaemia) and 4: (O2 + ischaemia) in comparison with either groups 1 (control) or 3 (O3 + ischaemia). Between either groups 2 and 4 or groups 1 and 3 there were no statistical significant differences. Figure 1 shows the GFR measured by means of plasma clearance of inulin. A significant decrease of inulin clearance was observed in groups 2 (ischaemia) and 4 (02 + ischaemia) in comparison with both groups 1 (control) and 3 (03 + ischaemia). Between either groups 2 and 4, or groups 1 and 3 there were no statistically significant difference.

Table 1 shows the biochemical parameters meas­ured in kidney homogenates groups 1 to 4. The phospholipase A activity in the 03 + ischaemia group did not differ from the control group and values were significantly lower in comparison with the ischaemia and O2 + ischaemia treatment groups. No difference was observed between groups 2 and 4. A similar trend was observed in regard to the fructosamine concentra­tion, that yielded significantly lower values in control and O3 + ischaemia groups in comparison with the ischaemia and 02 + ischaemia groups. No statistical differences between groups 1 and 3 and between groups 2 and 4 were observed. As was expected, the renal SOD activity showed a significant increase in the 03 + ischaemia group only in comparison with control, ischaemia and 02 + ischaemia. Morphological alterations (corticaJ-medullar haem­orrhage, mitochondria tumefaction of the tubular epithelium, tubular cell necrosis and dilatation of convoluted tubules) were present in 88% and 100% of the animals in the groups 2 and 4, respectively, and in only 30% of group 3 (with minor lesions). A significant statistical difference (p < 0.05) was obtained between the ozone group and the ischaemia and oxygen groups, No difference between the ischaemia group and the oxygen group was obtained.

Capture

FlG. 1. Plasmatic clearances of p-amino-hippurate (PAH) and inulin in the different groups of treatment. Values represent mean ± SE Different letters: indicate P < 0.05

 

Parameters (1) Control

(2) Ischaemia

(3) O3 + ischaemia (4) O2 +  ischaemia
Phospholipase A

Fructosamine

  22.4 ± 12.25a 0.013 ± 0.002a 104.7 ± 53.7b 0.020 ± 0.005b   33.7 ± 9.2a 0.015 ± 0.002a   92.5 ± 21.6 b  0.019 ± 0.001b
 

SODs

         742 ±182a         964 ± 184a 1407 ± 142b 996 ± 128 a

 

Discussion

It has been demonstrated that the induction of controlled stress conditions to cardiac cells produces paradoxically positive cell responses, while pro­longed ischaemic stress leads to irreversible cardiac cell injury.2223 The so-called ‘ischaemic precondition­ing’ promotes an adaptive mechanism that results in cell protection to a subsequent sustained ischaemic condition, as proven by experimental and clinical data.2225 ROS production, occurring during the ischaemia-reperfusion phenomenon, seems to be a major  mechanism of tissue injury.2-6,8,10 In this paper we present evidence that the oxidative precondition­ing with ozone could prepare; the host to face physiopathological conditions mediated by ROS, like those induced by the ischaemia-reperfusion process. Our results support the idea that an activation of the endogenous antioxidant defense system can help the preservation of an organ undergoing ische- mia.2,3,10,24,25   Previous work from our laboratories11-14 has already suggested that a judicious administration of ozone, in spite of its well-known reactivity and toxicity, is able to induce an oxidative stress adaptation1214 and preserve cellular integrity by controlling processes which generate and neutralize ROS.223-25 The present results have shown that repeated daily administrations of an optimal dosage of a gas mixture (O2+O5), by rectal insufflation in rats, can generate a sort of tolerance to free radicals released after the experimentally induced ischaemia-reperfusion phenomenon. On the contrary, in groups 3 (ischaemia) and 4 (O2 + ischaemia) a significant cellular damage was documented by functional, biochemical and morphological criteria.

Moreover, the significant stimulation of endoge­nous SOD in the O3+ischaemia group suggests that cellular protection is most likely achieved through the reduction in the availability of O2-.. Similar to other cells, renal cells respond to many biological stimuli, including ROS, with increased antioxidant enzyme activities.2-4 In our experimental situation, the increased SOD values in groups 2 and 4 were statistically not significant. Our data are in line with previous reports,26,27 that, to a different degree, have shown increased activities of SOD, catalase and glutathione peroxidases, after chronic O3 exposure. It is truly remarkable that plants can also express a protective response to O3, upregulating the anti­oxidant defense system so that the redox balance can be readjusted.28 Probably one of the most important ROS is O2-., produced by the activity of xantine oxidase (XO).29 Normally cells contain xanthine deliydrogenase (XDH) that catalyses the conversion of xanthine (or hypoxanthine) to uric acid. XDH can be convened to XO as a result of sulphydryl oxidation, or in vivo after ischaemia-reoxygenation injury.4 XO, in the presence of molecular oxygen, also converts

xanthine to uric acid but with the formation of O2-.. In addition, the XO generated ROS may be important in glomerular injury. O2-.is dismutated by SOD to H2O2, that is not a free radical, but is still a powerful oxidant. Moreover, even in the presence of traces of Fe2+, H2O2 can be transformed into the deleterious OH. by the Fenton reaction. Because of the wide distribution of chloride ion in biologic systems, the formation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is another significant product, being a highly reactive toxic species. O2-. can also react with nitric oxide (NO.) producing peroxynitrite (ONOO.) being highly toxic to cells. Antioxidant enzymes operate via several protective mechanisms: as an interesting example, rapid dismutation of 02-. to H202 , by depleting 02-. levels, on one side minimizes the formation of ONOO-. and on the other side spares NO that acts as a potent vasodilator of the renal circulation.

Critical evidence for the protective role of endoge­nous SOD has been recently provided in a study using transgenic mice overexpressing a SOD gene.50 Also Paller et al.51 demonstrated that treatment of rats with SOD or allopurinol, reduce renal injury after ischae­mia. Thus, enhanced local antioxidant enzyme activ­ities provided the kidney with an effective defence system against the toxic effect of ROS. Phospholipase A activity in group 3 was slightly above control values but significantly lower than values of groups 2 and 4, indicating that O3 exerted indirectly a protection against the cellular disruption, mediated by an enzyme which, after activation, generates lysophospholipids and other  metabolites responsible of cellular lysis. The increased phospholipase activity in groups 2 and 4 suggests that the enzyme may be partly responsible for the kidney damage noted in the morphological study. The evaluation of fructosamine levels gives us an indirect measure of the oxidative stress, because it accelerates protein glycosyiation2032 thus yielding higher fructosamine levels than the control ones, exactly as has been found in groups 2 and 4. Finally, in group 3 (O3 + ischaemia) the renal function remains unperturbed and it appears that the O3 treatment has been able to enhance the antioxidant system minimiz­ing the oxidative stress during reperfusion.

In conclusion, although ozone is potentially toxic, when used in therapeutic fashion can upregulate the expression of antioxidant enzymes, a novel property that is hardly achievable with another therapeutic approach.1214 Consequently, whenever possible, ozone therapy may become an important prophy­lactic treatment able to improve the success of organ transplantation.

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