Improved cold preservation of kidney tubular cells by means of adding bioflavonoids to organ preservation solutions.

Background: Cold ischemia and reperfusion during renal transplantation result in release of reactive oxygen species. The aim of this study is to examine whether cold storage induced cell injury can be ameliorated by adding flavonoids directly to preservation solutions.

Methods: Cultured renal tubular epithelial cells (LLC-PK1) were stored in University of Wisconsin (UW) or Euro-Collins (EC) solution at 4 degrees C for 20 hours.

Effect of quercetin on hypoxic injury in freshly isolated rat proximal tubules.

The bioflavonoid quercetin, which has antioxidant properties, protects renal tubular epithelial cells from oxidant-induced injury by inhibiting lipid peroxidation. We examined the effect of quercetin on hypoxia-induced injury in freshly isolated rat renal proximal tubules. Hypoxia induced rapid loss of cellular ATP, followed by functional and structural alterations measured as a decrease in tubular potassium content and sequentially by an increase in lactate dehydrogenase release.

Bioflavonoids attenuate renal proximal tubular cell injury during cold preservation in Euro-Collins and University of Wisconsin solutions.

Background: Cold ischemia and reperfusion during kidney transplantation are associated with release of free oxygen radicals and damage of renal tubular cells. Bioflavonoids may diminish cold storage-induced injury due to antioxidant and iron chelating activities. This study was designed to delineate the renoprotective mechanisms of bioflavonoids and to define the structural features conferring cytoprotection from cold injury.