NHWD-870 protects the kidney from ischemia/reperfusion injury by upregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (experimental study)

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury is a critical clinical condition with a potentially fatal prognosis if not adequately managed. NHWD-870, a known Brd4 inhibitor with anti-cancer properties, exhibits additional attributes such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic effects, suggesting its potential to preserve renal tissue and mitigate damage during ischemic insults. We aimed to assess the potential nephroprotective effect of NHWD-870 by investigating its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties in a rat model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Male Wistar Albino rats (n=24) were randomly assigned to four groups: sham, control, vehicle, and NHWD-870. The control group experienced bilateral renal ischemia for 30 minutes, followed by 2 hours of reperfusion, while the sham group underwent a laparotomy without ischemia-reperfusion induction. The vehicle group received a DMSO injection, and the NHWD-870 group was administered 3mg/kg NHWD-870 orally 24 hours before repeating the control group protocol. Blood samples were collected after reperfusion for blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) analysis. ELISA method was used to assess IL-1B, BCL-2, PGF-2, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in renal tissue. Tubular injury severity was evaluated through histopathological analysis. NHWD-870 treatment improved renal function and histological preservation compared to the control and vehicle groups. BUN, sCR, IL-1B, BCL-2, and PGF-2 levels in renal tissue were significantly improved in the NHWD-870 group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was significantly upregulated (p<0.01), and tubular injury severity was reduced in the NHWD-870 group. NHWD-870 demonstrated substantial nephroprotective effects in reducing renal damage induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. These effects may be attributed to the anti-apoptotic properties, as indicated by increased levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and the reduction in oxidative stress marker PGF-2 through upregulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, along with the decrease in the inflammatory marker IL-1B.