Long-Lasting Hypoxic Preservation of Porcine Kidney Cells. In: Huxtable RJ, Azuma J, Kuriyama K, Nakagawa M, Baba A, editors. Taurine 2. Boston: Springer US; 1996. pp. 203-12. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-0182-8_22]

Preservation Solutions for Kidney Transplantation: History, Advances and Mechanisms

Solid organ transplantation was one of the greatest medical advances during the past few decades. Organ preservation solutions have been applied to diminish ischemic/hypoxic injury during cold storage and improve graft survival. In this article, we provide a general review of the history and advances of preservation solutions for kidney transplantation. Key components of commonly used solutions are listed, and effective supplementations for current available preservation solutions are discussed. At cellular and molecular levels, further insights were provided into the pathophysiological mechanisms of effective ingredients against ischemic/hypoxic renal injury during cold storage. We pay special attention to the cellular and molecular events during transplantation, including ATP depletion, acidosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other intracellular mechanisms.

The Effect of Modified Biolasol Solution on the Efficacy of Storing Isolated Porcine Kidneys

Biolasol is a newly developed solution for storing the liver, pancreas, kidneys, and heart by simple hypothermia. It exhibits high efficacy in maintaining structural and functional integrity of the graft prior to its transplantation. The solution was modified by the addition of ascorbic acid (0.088g/l) and ascorbic acid with prolactin (1 μg/l PRL + 0.088g/l vitamin C). The effectiveness of the obtained solutions in the protection of nephrons of isolated porcine kidneys was assessed based on the analysis of the activity of ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) as well as lactate concentration determined in perfundates collected after 2 h (0' and 30' preservation) and 48 h (0' and 30' preservation) of graft storage. It has been found that the synergistic action of Biolasol components determines the integrity and stability of cell membranes, which in turn affects the proper functioning of the organ after transplantation. The addition of ascorbic acid and prolactin to Biolasol affects the maintenance of the normal cytoskeleton of the stored graft.

Melatonin protects kidney grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury through inhibition of NF-kB and apoptosis after experimental kidney transplantation

Free radicals are involved in pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Melatonin is a potent scavenger of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Thus, this study was designed to elucidate its effects in a model of rat kidney transplantation. Twenty Lewis rats were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 10 animals each). Melatonin (50 mg/kg BW) dissolved in 5 mL milk was given to one group via gavage 2 hr before left donor nephrectomy. Controls were given the same volume of milk only. Kidney grafts were then transplanted into bilaterally nephrectomized syngeneic recipients after 24 hr of cold storage in Histidine-Tryptophan-Ketoglutarate solution. Both graft function and injury were assessed after transplantation through serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, transaminases, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Biopsies were taken to evaluate tubular damage, the enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), and the expression of NF-kBp65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), caspase-3 as indices of oxidative stress, necrosis, and apoptosis, respectively. Melatonin improved survival (P < 0.01) while decreasing BUN, creatinine, transaminases, and LDH values up to 39-71% (P < 0.05). Melatonin significantly reduced the histological index for tubular damage, induced tissue enzymatic activity of SOD while reducing LPO. At the same time, melatonin down-regulated the expression of NF-kBp65, iNOS, and caspase-3. In conclusion, donor preconditioning with melatonin protected kidney donor grafts from IRI-induced renal dysfunction and tubular injury most likely through its anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and NF-kB inhibitory capacity.

Danshen protects kidney grafts from ischemia/reperfusion injury after experimental transplantation

Danshen (DS) is used for treatment of various ischemic events in the traditional Chinese medicine. Hence, this study was designed to investigate its effect on ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) after experimental kidney transplantation (eKTx). Nephrectomized Sprague-Dawley rats underwent eKTx. Some animals were infused with 1.5 ml DS 10 min before surgery. Kidney grafts were transplanted after cold storage for 20 h in Histidine-Tryptophane-Ketoglutarate solution. After reperfusion blood samples were collected for blood urinary nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alanine transaminase. Further, tissue was assessed for morphologic and pathophysiologic changes. Donor preconditioning with DS (DS-d) significantly decreased BUN, creatinine, LDH, and aspartate aminotransferase to 65-97% of controls while preconditioning of the recipient (DS-r) decreased values to 58-82% (P < 0.05). Tubular damage and caspase-3 decreased significantly in both DS-d and DS-r (DS-d: 96% and 67%, DS-r: 83% and 75% of controls) while heat shock protein 72 and superoxide dismutase increased significantly (DS-d: 143% and 173%, DS-r: 166% and 194% of controls). Further, inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha decreased (DS-d: 84% and 61%, DS-r: 79% and 67% of controls) after DS. Preconditioning of both donors and recipients with DS significantly reduces IRI and thus improves graft function after eKTx.

Cytoprotective role of taurine in a renal epithelial cell culture model

Taurine (TAU) is a sulfur-containing amino acid that has been shown to decrease during aging and is believed to be important for cytoprotection. A decrease in TAU could exacerbate the accumulation of free radical-induced damage that may lead to cell death during the aging process. We have shown previously that TAU directly inhibits dopamine (DA) and (-)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alanine (L-dopa) oxidation. Experiments were conducted to establish a cytoprotective role for TAU. Porcine renal epithelial cells were treated for 1 hr with iron and catecholamines (L-dopa and DA) to produce cytotoxicity by a free radical and quinone mechanism in the absence and presence of 10 or 20mM TAU. Viability assays, protein, and DNA measurements were performed after a 24hr recovery period. In some experiments, cells were extracted immediately after the insult for DA and TAU content measurements using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Catecholamine-induced cytotoxicity caused a 50% loss in cell viability, and 10 or 20mM TAU provided significant protection from cytotoxicity and maintained the functional integrity of the cells. Photomicrographs showed attenuation in cell loss and swelling in the presence of TAU. Pretreatment with 1mM TAU followed by exposure to iron and L-dopa in the presence of 1mM TAU caused a moderate but non-significant increase in cell survival. These data conclusively show that TAU can play a cytoprotective role in the LLC-PK(1) cell culture model.