Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a failed regenerative process that facilitates chronic kidney disease progression. The current study was designed to study the effect of erlotinib, a receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on the progression of renal fibrosis. The study included four groups of mice: control group; adenine group: received adenine (0.2% w/w) daily with food for 4 weeks; erlotinib group: received 80 mg/kg/day erlotinib orally (6 ml/kg/day, 1.3% w/v suspension in normal saline 0.9%) for 4 weeks; adenine + erlotinib group: received adenine and erlotinib concurrently. Kidney function and antioxidant biomarkers were measured. Renal expression of Bcl2 and p53 and histopathological changes (tubular injury and renal fibrosis) were scored. Renal tissue levels of transforming growth factor-β1, p-ERK1/2 and p-STAT3 were measured. Results obtained showed significant decrease (P < 0.001) in serum creatinine, urea and uric acid in erlotinib + adenine group. Level of malondialdehyde was decreased significantly (P < 0.001) while reduced glutathione and catalase levels were increased (P < 0.01) by erlotinib concurrent administration. Erlotinib markedly reduced fibrosis and tubular injury and decreased TGF-β1, p-ERK1/2 and p-STAT3 (P < 0.5). In addition, expression level of Bcl-2 was elevated (P < 0.001) while that of p53-was reduced compared to adenine alone. Erlotinib can attenuate renal fibrosis development and progression through anti-fibrotic, antioxidant and anti-apoptotic pathways.
Highlights
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health burden and is considered as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases
Various mediators are involved in the development of CKD and may represent possible targets for therapy such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, nuclear factor-erythroid 2 related factor, peroxisome proliferatoractivated γ receptor, IL-11 and advanced glycation e ndproducts[5, 6]
Administration of erlotinib concurrently with adenine resulted in significant (P < 0.01) decrease in levels of kidney function biomarkers compared to their elevated levels in group received adenine alone
Summary
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health burden and is considered as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), a receptor tyrosine kinase, has been identified in renal tissue mainly in the epithelial cells of distal and collecting tubules, peritubular vessels and glomeruli with more abundant expression in diseased than in normal k idneys[9, 10]. Activation of these receptors has been found to contribute in various experimental models of CKD as diabetic nephropathy and glomerulonephritis[11,12,13].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
