Fasudil hydrochloride prevents cisplatin-induced renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis via Akt activation and PTEN inhibition

AIM: To explore the protective effect of fasudil hydrochloride against cisplatin(CP)-induced renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis via Akt activation and PTEN inhibition. METHODS: Healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into control group, CP group and CP+ fasudil group. All animals were sacrificed 96 h after injection of 0.9% saline or CP. Blood samples and kidney tissues were collected to evaluate levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (sCr) and morphological alteration of the kidneys, respectively. The apoptosis of renal tubular epithelium cells was detected by TUNEL. Protein levels of Rho-associated protein kinase 1 (ROCK1), PTEN and Akt were measured by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The protein level of p-Akt was analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the sCr and BUN levels, the expression of ROCK1 and PTEN and TUNEL-positive cells were increased, while the level of p-Akt was decreased in CP group and CP+fasudil group. The histological structure of the kidneys observed by PAS staining was developed marked structural damage in CP group(P<0.05). Compared with CP group, sCr level, the expression of ROCK1 and PTEN and TUNEL-positive cells were decreased, while the level of p-Akt was increased in CP+fasudil group (P<0.05). Very little structural damage was detected in fasudil-treated groups. CONCLUSION: Fasudil hydrochloride has a protective effect on CP-induced renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis via Akt activation and PTEN inhibition 1.