Efficacy of Nitric Oxide-Releasing Nanofibers in Reducing Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the preventive effect of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing nanofibers against ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and to determine the mechanism of action as a novel NO delivery system in a rat model. MATERIAL/METHODS: Eight-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 250 to 280 g, were divided into 3 groups: sham, untreated (n=5); control, renal ischemia injury for 55 min (n=4); and NO24, renal ischemia injury for 55 min with kidney wrapping of NO-releasing nanofiber for 24 h (n=6). mRNA expression was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whereas protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. RESULTS: Serum creatinine levels in the sham, control, and NO24 groups were 0.48±0.08, 4.66±0.33, and 2.60±1.00 mg/dL, respectively (P=0.002). Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression differed significantly between the control and the NO24 groups (Bcl-2/β-actin; control, 0.50±0.12; NO24, 1.56±0.56; P=0.024). mRNA expression level of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was significantly higher in the control group (23.24±11.32, P=0.016) than in the sham group (1.00±1.21), and mRNA expression of TNF-α in the NO24 group (1.28±1.16, P=0.010) was significantly lower than in the control group. Histological analysis revealed decreased atrophy and necrosis in the NO24 group compared to those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that kidney wrapping of NO-releasing nanofibers had a protective effect against kidney IRI through anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.