Flow control effect of necrostatin-1 on cell death of the NRK-52E renal tubular epithelial cell line

Apoptosis and necroptosis occur in renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) death in acute kidney injury (AKI), and may be regulated by several methods. The present study identified a protective effect of necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) on RTECs via a flow-control-like effect. The results established a hypoxic-ischemic injury model of rat NRK-52E RTECs using tumour necrosis factor-α followed by ATP depletion with antimycin A and the pan-caspase pathway blocker, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoro-methylketone. Following pre-treatment of cells with Nec-1, cell organelle inflation, fragmentation inhibition and improved cell viability were observed with a parallel reduced expression of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3-II. Nec-1 was involved in flow control in the process of cell injury and death. In conclusion, the present study indicated that Nec-1 provides a protective effect and serves an important role in the prevention of AKI in an NRK-52E cell model. Further studies will be required to fully investigate the role of Nec-1 in the development of AKI in vivo.