Antioxidant enzyme gene expression in rats with remnant kidney induced chronic renal failure

Reactive oxygen intermediates play a role in chronic renal injury and glome rulosclerosis. We investigate changes in renal cortex antioxidant enzyme ge ne expression in the rat remnant-kidney model of chronic renal failure and compare the new data to enzyme activities published earlier. Antioxidant en zyme gene expression is evaluated by Northern blot analysis of cortex mRNA, using cDNA probes for catalase, copper/zinc-containing superoxide dismutas e, and glutathione peroxidase. Catalase gene expression decreases during de velopment of renal failure; this decrease is accompanied by decreased catal ase activity during the glomerulosclerosis phase of the remnant-kidney mode l. Copper/zinc superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase gene express ion remain at a normal level during progression of the model, whereas their activities show a temporary decrease in the early remnant kidney. In the r emnant-kidney model, catalase seems to be more vulnerable to reactive oxyge n intermediates than superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Our r esults show that antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression do not cha nge in the same direction at all times during disease development and that all antioxidant enzymes do not respond in the same way. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.