Grabowska M, Michałek K, Kędzierska-Kapuza K, Kram A, Gill K, Piasecka M. The long-term effects of rapamycin-based immunosuppressive protocols on the expression of renal aquaporins 1, 2, 3 and 4 water channels in rats.
Histol Histopathol 2021;
36:459-474. [PMID:
33634832 DOI:
10.14670/hh-18-321]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
To this day, the effect of multi-drug immunosuppressive protocols on renal expression of AQPs is unknown. This study aimed to determine the influence of rapamycin-based multi-drug immunosuppressive regimens on the expression of aquaporins (AQPs) 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the rat kidney.
METHODS
For 6 months, 24 male Wistar rats were administered immunosuppressants, according to the three-drug protocols used in patients after organ transplantation. The rats were divided into four groups: the control group, the TRP group (tacrolimus, rapamycin, prednisone), the CRP group (cyclosporine A, rapamycin, prednisone), and the MRP group (mycophenolate mofetil, rapamycin, prednisone). Selected red cell indices and total calcium were measured in the blood of rats and quantitative analysis of AQP1, AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4 immunoexpression in the kidneys were performed.
RESULTS
In the TRP and CRP groups, a mild increase of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and total calcium were observed. Moreover, decreased expression of AQP1-4 was found in all experimental groups, with the highest decrease in the CRP group.
CONCLUSIONS
The long-term immunosuppressive treatment using multi-drug protocols decreased AQP1-4 expressions in renal tubules, possibly leading to impaired urine-concentrating ability in rat.
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