Genistein modulates NF-κB-associated renal inflammation, fibrosis and podocyte abnormalities in fructose-fed rats

Protective effect of genistein isolated from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides on hepatic injury and fibrosis induced by chronic alcohol in rats

This study examined the effect of genistein isolated from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides on chronic alcohol-induced hepatic injury and fibrosis. Rats underwent intragastric administration of alcohol (5.0-9.5g/kg) once a day for 24 weeks. A subset of rats were also intragastrically treated with genistein (0.5, 1 or 2mg/kg) once a day. Genistein significantly decreased the plasma alcohol concentration, inhibited the activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases and decreased levels of inflammatory mediators, including interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α and myeloperoxidase, via down-regulation of nuclear factor-κB. Moreover, genistein effectively inhibited collagen deposition and reduced pathological tissue damage as determined by hepatic fibrosis biomarkers, such as total hyaluronic acid, laminin, and type III collagen. Mechanistically, studies showed that genistein markedly reduced lipid peroxidation, recruited the anti-oxidative defense system, inhibited CYP2El activity, promoted extracellular matrix degradation by modulating the levels of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-2, induced HSC apoptosis by down-regulating B-cell lymphoma 2 mRNA, and inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor β(1) proteins. In conclusion, genistein exerts a preventative effect to ameliorate developing liver injury and even liver fibrosis induced by chronic alcohol administration in rats.

Overexpression of HGF transgene attenuates renal inflammatory mediators, Na(+)-ATPase activity and hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Renal inflammation and oxidative stress are constantly present in experimental hypertension. Since the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has reduced levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), which suppresses the activation of the proinflammatory nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-κB), we speculated that HGF deficiency could play a key role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the SHR. To test this hypothesis we increased HGF in the SHR by HGF gene delivery. We found that kidneys of 15-week-old SHR had an important reduction in HGF mRNA and protein expression. Adult SHRs were randomly assigned to receive weekly hydrodynamic injection (1mg/kg) of a naked plasmid containing human HGF (hHGF) gene associated with a cytomegalovirus promoter (pCMV-HGF) or empty vector (pcDNA3.1) during 6weeks. WKY rats treated with pcDNA3.1 and pCMV-HGF served as controls. The kidneys in the hypertensive SHR untreated and treated with the empty vector had increased NF-κB activation, elevated mRNA and protein expression of RANTES, MCP-1 and IL-6 and increased oxidative stress. Activity of Na(+)-ATPase was increased while activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase was normal. hHGF gene therapy normalized renal NF-κB activity, proinflammatory cytokines, antioxidant status (GSH, SOD and CAT), Na(+)-ATPase activity, reduced renal injury and ameliorated hypertension. Our results suggest that reduction in HGF production plays a major role in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the SHR and increasing HGF is a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of hypertension.