BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol on kidney function in a rat model of uremia and the expression of heat shock proteins.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The rat model of uremia was developed by 5/6 nephrectomy of Sprague–Dawley rats. The Hsp70 inhibitor MKT-077, a rhodacyanine dye, was used. The study groups included rats with sham surgery (the sham group), the rat model of uremia (the model group), the solvent-treated control group (the control group), the rat model treated with resveratrol group (the resveratrol group), the rat model treated with MKT-077 (the MKT-077 group), and the resveratrol+MKT-077 group. Kidney tissues were studied histologically. Renal cell apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method. Expression of p53, Bax, and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein were detected by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

RESULTS: Compared with the sham group, the expression levels of heat shock proteins Hsp70, Hsp90, Hsp27, Hsp25, Hsp40, and Hsp60 in the kidney of the rat model group increased to different degrees. Compared with the model group, the Hsp70 levels in the resveratrol group were significantly increased (p<0.05). Compared with the model group, treatment with MKT-077 reduced the survival rate of rats, which was increased following resveratrol treatment. Compared with the resveratrol group, renal function in the resveratrol+MKT-077 group was significantly reduced (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: In a rat model of uremia, resveratrol reduced renal injury and improved both renal function and survival, which were associated with increased expression of Hsp70.

Keywords: Acute Kidney Injury, HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins, Uremia, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Creatinine, Kidney, RNA, Messenger, resveratrol, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53, bcl-2-Associated X Protein