Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2005 November; 26 (11): 1345-1351; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2005.00200.x

Aim: To study the effect of selective interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (ICE, caspase-1) inhibitor on ischemic acute renal failure (ARF).

Methods: Mouse models of ischemic ARF were treated with the specific ICE inhibitor AC-YVAD-CMK. A renal function assay and renal morphological studies were employed to estimate the renal protective effect of AC-YVAD-CMK. The survival rate of mouse models was also analyzed by a time series test. Furthermore, renal ICE activity, mature interleukin-18 (IL-18) protein expression and interferon-g (IFN-g) mRNA expression were also detected by fluorescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ELISA, and semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively.

Results: The levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) increased remarkably in the model controls compared with the sham-operated groups (P<0.01). Typical renal tubular necrosis was found in the model controls. Renal ICE activity, mature IL-18 protein expression, and IFN-γ mRNA expression were also increased significantly in the model controls compared with the sham-operated groups. The levels of BUN and Scr in the AC-YVAD-CMK therapy group were decreased significantly compared with the untreated model controls (P<0.01). Renal tubulointerstitial lesion was also attenuated significantly (P<0.05). AC-YVAD-CMK therapy alleviated the clinical features of ARF, and increased the survival rate (P<0.01). Furthermore, AC-YVAD-CMK therapy also decreased ICE activity, mature IL-18 protein expression, and IFN-γ mRNA expression in renal tissue (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The selective ICE inhibitor AC-YVAD-CMK can effectively protect the kidney from acute ischemic lesions. This protective effect is associated with decreased renal ICE activity and suppressed IL-18 maturation and IFN-γ mRNA transcription.

Keywords: kidney failure; ischemia; caspase-1; inter-leukin-1β-converting enzyme inhibitor; interleukin-1; interleukin-18; interferon type II