Effect of heme oxygenase-1 on the kidney during septic shock in rats

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 on the kidney during septic shock in rats. Eighty healthy and clean Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (group C), septic shock group (group SS), lipopolysaccharide plus ZnPP-IX group (group LZ), and ZnPP-IX (group Z). The plasma levels of COHb, Cr, and BUN; the urine levels of gamma-GTP, alpha 1-MG, RBP, and NAG; and MDA content, SOD activity; HO-1 mRNA; HO-2mRNA; HO-1 protein; and HO-2 protein from kidney were measured. The plasma levels of Cr and BUN; the urine levels of gamma-GTP, alpha 1-MG, RBP, and NAG; and MDA content from kidney in group SS were obviously higher than in group C and Z (both P < 0.05), respectively, but lower than in group LZ (both P < 0.05), respectively. In contrast, the plasma levels of COHb and SOD activity from kidney in group SS were obviously lower than those in group C and Z (both P < 0.05), respectively, but higher than in group LZ (both P < 0.05), respectively. The HO-1 mRNA and HO-1 protein of nephridial tissue in group LZ were obviously higher than in group C and Z, respectively (both P < 0.05), but lower than in group SS, respectively (both P < 0.05). There were no significant differences of HO-2mRNA and HO-2 protein among these 4 groups (both P > 0.05). It is concluded that upregulation of the HO-1 protein might contribute to the protection of kidney during septic shock in rats. (Translational Research 2009; 153:283-287)