Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1, an acute kidney injury biomarkers were affected by herbal medicine

Nephrotoxicity is one of the initial kidney disorder cascade [1]. Acute kidney injury (AKI) biomarkers has recently been reported on normal kidney cell lines provoked by cisplatin. To resolve the renal toxicity, the aim of this study was to initially increase cell viability in normal kidney cell line without herbal medicine's toxic effect and to measure the activities of acute kidney injury biomarkers, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). HK-2 human kidney cell lines were treated with cisplatin (10 uM) and then modulated by herbal products at dose range of 0.1 – 0.5 mg/mL. The levels of nephrotoxicity biomarker were also measured by ELISA assay in those cell lines. Treatment of cisplatin at concentration (10 uM) decreased the cell viability. Induction of NGAL and KIM-1 as nephrotoxicity biomarker in HK-2 cells after treated by cisplatin for 24h. The results indicated that NGAL and KIM-1 were decreased in dose dependent manner by Schisandra chinensis (SC) from 30% through 60% which showed the therapeutic potential on AKI biomarker in HK-2 cells (Figure). SC had a potential as an effector on acute kidney injury through inhibiting the activities of NGAL and KIM-1 below the toxic dosage range. Further in vivo proof-of-concept study is needed to elucidate their efficacies on both acute and chronic kidney disorders.

This study was supported by the Traditional Korean Medicine R&D program funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI, Grant # HI16C0948).

Yao X, Panichpisal K, Kurtzman N, Nugent K. Am J Med Sci 2007; 115 – 124.