Multiple Antioxidants and L-Arginine Modulate Inflammation and Dyslipidemia in Chronic Renal Failure Rats

Abstract

The kidney is an important source of L-arginine, the endogenous precursor of nitric oxide (NO). Surgical problems requiring extensive renal mass reduction (RMR) decrease renal NO production, leading to multiple hemodynamic and homeostatic disorders manifested by hypertension, oxidative stress, and increased inflammatory cytokines. Using the RMR model of chronic renal failure (CRF), we assessed the effects of twelve weeks' administration of L-arginine and/or a mixture of antioxidants (L-carnitine, catechin, vitamins E and C) on plasma cytokines, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), nitrate and nitrites (NO₂/NO₃), lipid profile, blood pressure, and renal function. CRF rats showed increased plasma IL-1α, IL1-β, IL-6, TNF-α, and sICAM-1 levels and decreased anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and 10 levels, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. L-arginine treatment improved kidney functions, decreased systolic blood pressure, and decreased inflammatory cytokines levels. Antioxidants administration decreased inflammatory cytokines and sICAM-1 levels and increased IL-4 levels. Combined use of both L-arginine and the antioxidant mixture were very effective in their tendency to recover normal values of kidney functions, plasma cytokines, sICAM-1, blood pressure, NO₂/NO₃, cholesterol, and triglycerides concentrations. Indeed, the effects of L-arginine and the antioxidants on the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines may open new perspectives in the treatment of uremia.

Keywords:

• chronic renal failure
• L-arginine
• antioxidants
• inflammatory cytokines
• dyslipidemia

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The author is grateful to Mr. Cassemiro Victoria for his excellent help in the biochemical measurements and for Mr. Gamal Abdul Aal for his assistance and support during the experimental part of the work.

This study was supported by funds provided by King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh (LGP-10-3), and resources supplied by the College of Medicine Research Center (CMRC) of the Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University (07-580).

The author reports no conflict of interest. The author alone is responsible for the content and writing of the paper.