Long-term treatment with cyclosporine decreases aquaporins and urea transporters in the rat kidney

Sun Woo Lim, Can Li, Bo Kyung Sun, Ki Hwan Han, Wan Young Kim, Yoon Wha Oh, Jong Un Lee, Peter F. Kador, Mark A. Knepper, Jeff M. Sands, Jin Kim, Chul Woo Yang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

60 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of cyclosporine (CsA) treatment on urinary concentration ability. Rats were treated daily for 4 wk with vehicle (VH; olive oil, 1 ml/kg sc) or CsA (15 mg/kg sc). The influence of CsA on the kidney's ability to concentrate urine was evaluated using functional parameters and expression of aquaporins (AQP1-4) and of urea transporters (UT-A-1-3, and UT-B). Plasma vasopressin levels and the associated signal pathway were evaluated, and the effect of vasopressin infusion on urine concentration was observed in VH- and CsA-treated rats. Toxic effects of CsA on tubular cells in the medulla as well as the cortex were evaluated with aldose reductase (AR), Na-K-ATPase-α1 expression, and by determining the number of terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. Long-term CsA treatment increased urine volume and fractional excretion of sodium and decreased urine osmolality and free-water reabsorption compared with VH-treated rats. These functional changes were accompanied by decreases in the expression of AQP (1-4) and UT (UT-A2, -A3, and UT-B), although there was no change in AQP2 in the cortex and outer medulla and UT-A1 in the inner medulla (IM). Plasma vasopressin levels were not significantly different between two groups, but infusion of vasopressin restored CsA-induced impairment of urine concentration. cAMP levels and Gsα protein expression were significantly reduced in CsA-treated rat kidneys compared with VH-treated rat kidneys. CsA treatment decreased the expression of AR and Na-K-ATPase-α1 and increased the number of TUNEL-positive renal tubular cells in both the cortex and medulla. Moreover, the number of TUNEL-positive cells correlated with AQP2 or UT-A3) expression within the IM. In conclusion, CsA treatment impairs urine-concentrating ability by decreasing AQP and UT expression. Apoptotic cell death within the IM at least partially accounts for the CsA-induced urinary concentration defect.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)F139-F151
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology
Volume287
Issue number1 56-1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2004

Keywords

  • Aldose reductase
  • Apoptosis
  • Urine concentration

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