Suramin promotes recovery from renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in mice.

Suramin is a polysulfonated naphthylurea originally designed as a treatment for trypanosomiasis; but that has also been used to treat rodent models of fulminant hepatic failure and focal brain ischemia. In this study, we determined the effects of suramin on renal ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute kidney injury in mice, in particular its effect when administered after renal injury has been established. Increasing concentrations of suramin were given 24 hours following reperfusion, a time when serum creatinine levels were at their highest level.

Epiregulin promotes proliferation and migration of renal proximal tubular cells.

Epiregulin is an epidermal growth factor (EGF) member that activates ErBB1 and ErBB4 homodimers and all possible heterodimeric ErbB complexes. Because its role in renal cell regeneration has not been investigated, we assessed the effect of exogenous epiregulin on regeneration of renal proximal tubular cells (RPTC) in primary culture. Epiregulin (10 ng/ml) was equivalent to EGF (10 ng/ml) in enhancing RPTC proliferation and migration.

ERK promotes hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis through caspase-3 activation and inhibition of Akt in renal epithelial cells.

Reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), are generated during ischemia-reperfusion and are critically involved in acute renal failure. The present studies examined the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in H(2)O(2)-induced renal proximal tubular cells (RPTC) apoptosis. Exposure of RPTC to 1 mM H(2)O(2) resulted in apoptosis and activation of ERK1/2 and Akt.