Protective effects of cyclic helix B peptide on aristolochic acid induced acute kidney injury

Background: Aristolochic acid (AA) injuries remain a serious condition associated with acute renal dysfunction. Herein, the effect and mechanism of a novel tissue protective peptide, cyclic helical B-peptide (CHBP) derived from erythropoietin, were investigated in a mice model. Methods: Mice were randomly divided into four groups, receiving the following treatments (1: saline; 2: AA 10 mg/kg; 3: AA 10 mg/kg + CHBP 4nmol/kg; 4: AA 10 mg/kg + CHBP 8nmol/kg). Results: Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine was increased by AA but decreased by CHBP in a dose-dependent fashion. CHBP also significantly improved renal tubular injury and inflammatory infiltration, which was gradually increased by AA. Apoptotic cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells, and active caspase-3+ cells were greatly reduced by CHBP. In addition, CHBP inhibited caspase-3, 9 and improved bcl-2, bcl-xl protein expression in vivo. Conclusion: Taken together, we demonstrated, for the first time, that CHBP effectively improved renal function and tissue damage caused by AA, which maybe through reducing caspase-3 activation, apoptosis, and inflammation. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.