Inflammation and kidney injury attenuated by prior intake of Brazil nuts in the process of ischemia and reperfusion

• Main Authors: Maria Fernanda Ribeiro Cury, Estéfany Queiroz Olivares, Renata Correia Garcias, Giovana Queda Toledo, Natassia Alberici Anselmo, Leticia Colombo Paskakulis, Fernanda Fortuci Resende Botelho, Natiele Zanardo Carvalho, Analice Andreoli da Silva, Camila Agren, Carla Patrícia Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Nefrologia 2018-08-01
• Series: Brazilian Journal of Nephrology
• Subjects: Ischemia; Reperfusion; Acute Kidney Injury; Inflammation; Bertholletia; Rats
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-28002018005026102&lng=en&tlng=en

ABSTRACT Introduction: Ischemia and reperfusion (IR) is a process inherent to the procedures involved in the transplantation of organs that causes inflammation, cell death and cell injury, and may lead to rejection of the graft. It is possible that the anti-inflammatory properties of the Brazil nuts (BN) can mitigate the renal injury caused by IR. Objective: To investigate whether the previous intake of BN reduces the expression of markers of inflammation, injury, and cell death after renal IR. Methods: Male Wistar rats were distributed into six groups (N = 6/group): SHAM (control), SHAM treated with 75 or 150 mg of BN, IR, and IR treated with 75 or 150 mg of BN. The IR procedure consisted of right nephrectomy and occlusion of the left renal artery with a non-traumatic vascular clamp for 30 min. BN was given daily from day 1 to 7 before surgery (SHAM or IR), and maintained until sacrifice (48 h after surgery). Inflammation was evaluated by renal expression of COX-2 and TGF-β, injury by the expression of vimentin, and cell death by apoptosis through caspase-3 expression (immunohistochemistry). Results: Pretreatment with 75 mg of BN reduced renal expression of the COX-2, TGF-β, vimentin, and caspase-3. The dose of 150 mg caused increased expression of COX-2. Conclusion: In experimental IR, the damage can be minimized with a prior low-dose intake of BN, improving inflammation, injury, and cell death.