1-3-dimethylthiourea and Proteinuria

Heparan sulfate (HS) in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is important for regulation of the charge-dependent permeability. Heparanase has been implicated in HS degradation in several proteinuric diseases. This study analyzed the role of heparanase in HS degradation in Adriamycin nephropathy (AN), a model of chronic proteinuria-induced renal damage. Expression of heparanase, HS, and the core protein of agrin (to which HS is attached) was determined on kidney sections from rats with AN in different experiments. First, expression was examined in a model of unilateral AN in a time-course study at 6-wk intervals until week 30. Second, rats were treated with the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylthiourea (DMTU) during bilateral AN induction. Finally, 6 wk after AN induction, rats were treated with angiotensin II receptor type 1 antagonist (AT1A) or vehicle for 2 wk. Heparanase expression was increased in glomeruli of rats with AN, which correlated with HS reduction at all time points and in all experiments. Treatment with DMTU prevented the increased heparanase expression, the loss of GBM HS, and reduced albuminuria. Finally, treatment of established proteinuria with AT1A significantly reduced heparanase expression and restored glomerular HS. In conclusion, an association between heparanase expression and reduction of glomerular HS in AN was observed. The effects of DMTU suggest a role for reactive oxygen species in upregulation of heparanase. Antiproteinuric treatment by AT1A decreased heparanase expression and restored HS expression. These results suggest involvement of radicals and angiotensin II in the modulation of GBM permeability through HS and heparanase expression.

Topics: Agrin; Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; Animals; Doxorubicin; Enzyme Induction; Gene Expression Regulation; Glomerular Basement Membrane; Glucuronidase; Heparitin Sulfate; Imidazoles; Kidney Tubules; Male; Nephrosis; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reactive Oxygen Species; Renin-Angiotensin System; Tetrazoles; Thiourea

Reactive oxygen species play an important role in adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy. We showed by in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) that renal reducing ability (RRA) declined on the 7th day after ADR administration. Proteinuria appeared after the decline in RRA. The aim of this study was to prove by in vivo EPR whether the decline in RRA is altered by scavengers such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylthiourea (DMTU) and that it is this change which is responsible for the proteinuria in ADR nephropathy. By showing that DMSO and DMTU ameliorate the RRA, we demonstrate that the decline in RRA is related to ADR-induced proteinuria.

Topics: Animals; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Doxorubicin; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Free Radical Scavengers; Kidney; Kidney Glomerulus; Male; Oxidative Stress; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Thiourea

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a multifunctional cytokine. Glomerular cells and tubular epithelial cells secrete and respond to TGF-beta1. A close association between elevated levels of TGF-beta1 and the development of glomerulonephritis, glomerulosclerosis, and tubular hypertrophy has been documented. The role of TGF-beta1 in proteinuria is not well understood.. Isolated rat glomeruli were incubated in medium alone or with TGF-beta1 (1 to 10 ng/mL) and TGF-beta1 + 200 U/mL of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or 1 mmol/L of dimethylthiourea (DMTU) scavengers of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals, respectively, for up to 60 minutes at 37 degrees C. Glomerular albumin permeability (Palb) was calculated from the volumetric response of glomeruli to an oncotic gradient using videomicroscopy.. One or 2.5 ng/mL of TGF-beta1 had no effect on Palb (0.18 +/- 0.08, N = 17; 0.18 +/- 0. 079, N = 20 vs. control 0.00 +/- 0.06, N = 25), whereas 5 or 10 ng/mL of TGF-beta1 caused a significant increase in Palb (0.31 +/- 0. 09, N = 20; 0.33 +/- 0.06, N = 23) within 15 minutes. The effect of 10 ng/mL of TGF-beta1 on Palb increased further after 30, 45, or 60 minutes of incubation (0.43 +/- 0.06, N = 24; 0.53 +/- 0.06, N = 25; 0.74 +/- 0.075, N = 21). The TGF-beta1-induced increase in Palb (0. 75 +/- 0.065, N = 15) was blocked by SOD (0.07 +/- 0.14 N = 15) or by DMTU (0.04 +/- 0.13, N = 15). Incubation of glomeruli with the carrier medium (4N HCl) in which TGF-beta1 is dissolved and SOD or DMTU alone did not affect Palb.. Elevated levels of TGF-beta1 derived from glomerular or extraglomerular sources are capable of increasing glomerular Palb via superoxide and hydroxyl radicals and may lead to proteinuria in vivo.

Topics: Animals; Biological Transport; Free Radical Scavengers; Hydroxyl Radical; In Vitro Techniques; Kidney Glomerulus; Male; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Serum Albumin, Bovine; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxides; Thiourea; Transforming Growth Factor beta

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is a steroid-resistant glomerular disease characterized by foot process flattening and heavy proteinuria. A similar disease was found to occur spontaneously in mice in which the Mpv17 gene was inactivated by retroviral insertion (Mpv17-/- mice). Here evidence is provided that glomerular damage in this murine model is due to overproduction of oxygen radicals and accumulation of lipid peroxidation adducts that were found in isolated glomeruli of Mpv17-/- mice. The development of glomerular disease in Mpv17-/- mice was inhibited by scavengers of oxygen radicals (dithiomethylurea) and lipid peroxidation (probucol), but not by steroid treatment. Although the glomerular polyanion was greatly reduced in proteinuric Mpv17-/- mice, it was preserved by antioxidative therapy. These results indicate that the glomerular disease in Mpv17-/- mice qualifies as a model of steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and that experimental therapies with scavengers of oxygen radicals and lipid peroxidation efficiently ameliorate glomerular damage.

Topics: Aging; Albuminuria; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Free Radical Scavengers; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental; Glucocorticoids; Kidney Glomerulus; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipid Peroxides; Membrane Proteins; Methylprednisolone; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Knockout; Probucol; Proteins; Proteinuria; Reactive Oxygen Species; Sialoglycoproteins; Superoxides; Thiourea

Puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced proteinuria in rats may be mediated by reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM), which are injurious to several cell components including membrane lipids. Increased malondialdehyde (MDA) production is indicative of lipid peroxidation. We examined if MDA content of glomeruli and its urinary excretion were increased in rats administered PAN. Of three groups of 8 Sprague-Dawley rats each, group 1 served a control, group 2 animals received a single intravenous injection of PAN (5 mg/100 g body weight) and group 3 animals PAN with intraperitoneal injections of dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a free radical scavenger of oxidants such as hydroxyl radicals, for 4 days. The rats were sacrificed on day 8 after PAN injection. Increasing proteinuria, starting on day 4, developed in animals in group 2 but not in the others. The glomerular MDA (nmol/mg protein) in group 2 animals was 2.93 +/- 1.91, significantly higher than 0.87 +/- 0.63 and 1.26 +/- 0.76 in groups 1 and 3, respectively. Urinary levels of MDA markedly increased in group 2 rats on day 3 and remained high thereafter, but no such increase occurred in the control animals and those administered PAN with DMTU; the latter was thus protective against PAN toxicity. Our observations support the view that ROM are involved in PAN-induced glomerular injury and that increased urinary MDA excretion can be a marker of ROM-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Topics: Animals; Blood Proteins; Free Radical Scavengers; Kidney Glomerulus; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Malondialdehyde; Proteinuria; Puromycin Aminonucleoside; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thiourea

Whether a reduction in urinary protein excretion in rats coadministered puromycin aminonucleoside and antioxidants was associated with a reduction in alterations to glomerular epithelial cell (podocyte) ultrastructure was examined. Daily urinary protein excretion was measured in rats that received a single i.v. injection of saline or puromycin aminonucleoside with or without coadministration of antioxidants. The coadministration of alpha-tocopherol/ascorbic acid, dimethyl thiourea, or superoxide dismutase to puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats reduced proteinuria by approximately 90, 40, and 60%, respectively, over the 18-day period studied. For a second group of rats, daily urinary protein excretion was measured and kidneys were processed for light microscopy and transmission and scanning electron microscopy 4, 5, and 10 days after injection. Transmission electron microscopic morphometric analysis of glomeruli from puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats coadministered antioxidants revealed significantly reduced foot process effacement on Days, 4, 5, and 10 compared with rats that received puromycin aminonucleoside alone. Thus, at Day 10, puromycin aminonucleoside-treated rats coadministered alpha-tocopherol/ascorbic acid, dimethyl thiourea, or superoxide dismutase contained 90, 74, and 88% (P < 0.01 in all cases) more glomerular epithelial cell filtration slits per unit length of glomerular basement membrane than rats treated with puromycin aminonucleoside alone. In contrast, by scanning electron microscopy, the antioxidants were found to provide no protection against the changes occurring in glomerular epithelial cell bodies and major processes. These results provide further evidence of a role for reactive oxygen species in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis and indicate that the antioxidants provide protection against the changes occurring in glomerular epithelial cell foot processes.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Body Weight; Diuresis; Female; Kidney Glomerulus; Microscopy, Electron; Proteinuria; Puromycin Aminonucleoside; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiourea; Vitamin E

The synergistic effects of combining fish oil (FO) diet, which reduces thromboxane A production, with the free radical scavenger, dimethylthiourea (DMTU), were evaluated in acute adriamycin nephrosis, because proteinuria in adriamycin nephrosis is mediated by increased renal thromboxane A and free radical production. The effects of combined evening primrose oil (EPO) and DMTU were compared with the DMTU + FO combination because EPO increases prostaglandin E but not thromboxane A. After 7, 14, and 21 days, proteinuria was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in rats receiving either DMTU + corn oil (CO) or DMTU + FO compared with untreated control rats. However, after 21 days, rats receiving DMTU + FO had significantly reduced urine protein excretion compared with those receiving DMTU + CO (103.9 +/- 20 mg daily vs 351.8 +/- 29.8 mg daily; P < 0.05). In contrast to FO, rats receiving EPO + DMTU had similar urine protein excretion to rats receiving DMTU + CO after 21 days (170.2 +/- 20.34 mg daily vs 179.45 +/- 26.38 mg daily). The mean serum cholesterol concentration was significantly (P < 0.01) reduced in rats receiving DMTU + FO (195.2 +/- 23.8 mg/dL) compared with DMTU + CO (377.9 +/- 28.5 mg/dL). Serum triglyceride levels also were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced in rats receiving DMTU + FO (52.5 +/- 26.4 mg/dL) compared with DMTU + CO (100.5 +/- 36.9 mg/dL). No significant differences in serum cholesterol concentrations or triglycerides occurred between rats receiving DMTU + CO and DMTU + EPO. Renal glutathione content was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 23% in normal rats receiving FO diet and by 34% in rats receiving combined DMTU + FO compared with CO alone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Cholesterol; Corn Oil; Dietary Fats; Doxorubicin; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fatty Acids, Essential; Fish Oils; gamma-Linolenic Acid; Glutathione; Hypolipidemic Agents; Kidney; Linoleic Acids; Nephrosis; Oenothera biennis; Plant Oils; Proteinuria; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reference Values; Thiourea; Time Factors; Triglycerides

Glutathione (GSH) metabolism, a tissue detoxification pathway, was evaluated in rats with adriamycin nephrosis (AN) treated with dimethylthiourea (DMTU), a free radical scavenger. After 7 days of DMTU, a significant reduction in proteinuria occurred as compared to AN controls (62.4 +/- 13.3 vs. 155.0 +/- 24.0 mg/24 h). A significant increase in renal cortical GSH content as well as glutathione peroxidase (GP) and transferase (GT) activities occurred in DMTU-treated rats as compared to controls. Glutathione monoethyl ester (GME) administration alone reduced proteinuria by 21% in AN, which was not significant despite a large increase in the renal GSH content, however, GP and GT activities were not increased by GME. We conclude that DMTU ameliorates glomerular injury in AN by stimulating GSH metabolism.

Topics: Animals; Doxorubicin; Glutathione; Kidney Cortex; Kidney Diseases; Male; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thiourea

The hydroxyl radical scavengers dimethylthiourea (DMTU), sodium benzoate, and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) were administered to rats before doxorubicin hydrochloride (ADR) (5 mg/kg, IV) to probe the role of free radicals in mediating proteinuria in doxorubicin hydrochloride nephrosis (AN). Because ADR stimulates free radical production, the role of renal glutathione was also evaluated; glutathione metabolism is involved in tissue detoxification processes. DMTU administration to rats with AN caused a significant (p less than 0.01) reduction in their proteinuria after 7 days (52.84 +/- 13.21 mg/24 hours) when they were compared with ADR controls (155.81 +/- 20.16 mg/24 hours). In similar fashion, their urine albumin excretion was also significantly reduced when compared with that of ADR controls (11.13 +/- 2.75 mg/24 hours vs 32.08 +/- 4.14 mg/24 hours; p less than 0.01). DMTU-treated rats also had significantly (p less than 0.001) reduced urinary protein and albumin excretion at 14 days when compared with rats that received ADR alone. The urinary excretion of lysozyme and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, markers of renal tubular injury, were significantly increased after 7 or 14 days in rats with AN, despite DMTU treatment. Creatinine clearance was significantly reduced (p less than 0.05) in rats receiving ADR alone (0.223 +/- 0.011 ml/min/100 gm) when compared with that in normal controls (0.331 +/- 0.027 ml/min/100 gm) or DMTU-treated rats (0.289 +/- 0.035 ml/min/100 gm). Unlike DMTU, neither sodium benzoate nor DMSO reduced proteinuria in rats with AN.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Acetylglucosaminidase; Albuminuria; Animals; Benzoates; Benzoic Acid; Creatine; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Disease Models, Animal; Doxorubicin; Free Radical Scavengers; Glomerular Filtration Rate; Glutathione; Hydroxides; Hydroxyl Radical; Injections, Intravenous; Kidney Cortex; Male; Muramidase; Nephrosis; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Thiourea

In an attempt to examine the role of reactive oxygen species on bivalent hapten immune complex glomerulonephritis, superoxide dismutase (SOD) concentration in renal tissue was studied by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and the protective effect of radical scavengers were evaluated. Injection of immune complex (IC) induced severe glomerulonephritis, characterized by neutrophil and/or monocyte infiltration in glomeruli in an association with proteinuria. SOD concentration in renal tissue decreased when neutrophil and/or monocytes infiltration and proteinuria developed, indicating a possible role of reactive oxygen species on renal injury. SOD, superoxide scavenger, and catalase (CAT), which destroy hydrogen peroxide, apparently reduced proteinuria on 14th day (18.5 +/- 3.17 mg/day, 20.7 +/- 7.35 mg/day, respectively, in comparison with control group, 29.5 +/- 4.21 mg/day), but there was no statistical significance. On the other hand, hydroxy radical scavenger, dimethylthiourea (DMTU) significantly reduced proteinuria (15.3 +/- 4.21 mg/day) and remarkable improvement in renal histology was observed. It is concluded that reactive oxygen species, especially hydroxy radical, play a significant role on renal injury in bivalent hapten immune complex glomerulonephritis.

Topics: Animals; Catalase; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Glomerulonephritis; Immune Complex Diseases; Kidney; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Oxygen; Proteinuria; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiourea

We examined the effect of scavengers of reactive oxygen metabolites on proteinuria in the passive Heymann nephritis model of membranous nephropathy. Passive Heymann nephritis was induced by a single intravenous injection of anti-Fx1A IgG in a dose of 10 mg/100 g body weight. Superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of superoxide or catalase which destroys hydrogen peroxide, did not affect the proteinuria. In contrast, dimethylthiourea (DMTU, 500 mg/kg followed by 125 mg/kg ip twice a day), a scavenger of hydroxyl radical, markedly reduced the proteinuria (day 5: anti-Fx1A 53 +/- 13, n = 18; anti-Fx1A + DMTU, 21 +/- 6 mg/24 h, n = 15, P less than 0.001). Experiments with 125I-labeled anti-Fx1A antibody demonstrated that DMTU did not affect the amount of antibody deposited in the kidney. Semiquantitative estimation of IgG and complement deposition in the kidney showed no differences between the DMTU-treated and control rats. A second hydroxyl radical scavenger, sodium benzoate (150 mg/kg ip twice a day), also resulted in marked reduction in proteinuria (day 5: anti-Fx1A 56 +/- 7, n = 9; anti-Fx1A + benzoate, 14 +/- 4 mg/24 h, n = 8, P less than 0.01). Because of the participation of iron in biological systems to generate hydroxyl radical, we also examined the effect of deferoxamine (DFO, 35 mg/day), an iron chelator, on the anti-Fx1A-induced proteinuria. There was a significant reduction in proteinuria in rats treated concurrently with DFO (day 5: anti-Fx1A 67 +/- 13, n = 15; anti-Fx1A + DFO, 29 +/- 4 mg/24 h, n = 15, P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Benzoates; Benzoic Acid; Deferoxamine; Free Radicals; Hydroxides; Hydroxyl Radical; Kidney; Male; Nephritis; Proteinuria; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Superoxide Dismutase; Thiourea

A single intravenous injection of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) results in marked proteinuria and glomerular morphological changes that are similar to minimal change disease in humans. We examined the effect of hydroxyl radical scavengers and an iron chelator on PAN-induced proteinuria. PAN in a dose of 5 mg/100 g body wt significantly increased urinary protein by day 5 (saline: 15 +/- 2, N = 24: PAN: 63 +/- 17, N = 23, P less than 0.001); the proteinuria rapidly increased thereafter, reaching 216 +/- 34, N = 23 by day 7. Concurrent administration of hydroxyl radical scavengers dimethylthiourea, (DMTU 500 mg/kg followed by 125 mg/kg i.p. twice a day) and sodium benzoate (BENZ, 150 mg/kg followed by 125 mg/kg i.p. twice a day) starting the evening before PAN injection markedly reduced proteinuria throughout the course of the study (urinary protein, mg/24 hours on day 7, mean +/- SEM: PAN: 229 +/- 45, N = 15; PAN + DMTU: 30 +/- 5, N = 18; PAN + BENZ: 80 +/- 18, N = 16. Because of the participation of iron in biological systems to generate hydroxyl radical, we also examined the effect of deferoxamine (DFO, 30 mg/day), an iron chelator, on the PAN-induced proteinuria. Concurrent administration of DFO was also protective. In a second series of experiments, DMTU and DFO (administered as described above and then for two additional days after the PAN) provided marked protection even when they were stopped prior to the onset of proteinuria. The protective effects of two hydroxyl radical scavengers and iron chelator implicate an important role for hydroxyl radical in PAN-induced nephrotic syndrome.

Topics: Animals; Benzoates; Benzoic Acid; Deferoxamine; Dimethyl Sulfoxide; Hydroxides; Hydroxyl Radical; Male; Proteinuria; Puromycin; Puromycin Aminonucleoside; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Thiourea