LPS-induced renal inflammation is prevented by (−)‐epicatechin in rats

• Published in: Redox biology 2017-04, Vol.11, p.342-349
• Main Authors: Prince, Paula Denise, Fischerman, Laura, Toblli, Jorge E., Fraga, Cesar G., Galleano, Monica
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants - pharmacology; Catechin - pharmacology; Creatinine - blood; Endotoxemia; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - immunology; Kidney - drug effects; Kidney - immunology; Kidney - pathology; Lipopolysaccharides; Male; NADPH Oxidase 2 - genetics; NADPH Oxidase 2 - immunology; NADPH Oxidase 4 - genetics; NADPH Oxidase 4 - immunology; NADPH Oxidases - genetics; NADPH Oxidases - immunology; Nephritis - chemically induced; Nephritis - genetics; Nephritis - pathology; Nephritis - prevention & control; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - immunology; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - genetics; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - immunology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive oxygen species; Renopathies; Research Paper; Signal Transduction; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - genetics; Toll-Like Receptor 4 - immunology; Toll-like receptors; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - immunology; Urea - blood
• ISSN: 2213-2317; 2213-2317
• DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2016.12.023

This work investigated the capacity of (−)-epicatechin to prevent the renal damage induced by LPS administration in rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed for 4 days a diet without or with supplementation with (−)-epicatechin (80mg/kg BW/d), and subsequently i.p. injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six hours after injection, LPS-treated rats exhibited increased plasma creatinine and urea levels as indicators of impaired renal function. The renal cortex of the LPS-treated rats showed: i) increased expression of inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, iNOS and IL-6); ii) activation of several steps of NF-κB pathway; iii) overexpression of TLR4, and iv) higher superoxide anion production and lipid peroxidation index in association with increased levels of gp91phox and p47phox (NOX2) and NOX4. Pretreatment with dietary (−)-epicatechin prevented the adverse effects of LPS challenge essentially by inhibiting TLR4 upregulation and NOX activation and the consequent downstream events, e.g. NF-kB activation.