C-Phycocyanin isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa Kützing mitigates renal injury induced by potassium dichromate via toll-like receptor-4 down regulation in rats

C-Phycocyanin is among the most promising microalgal derived molecules with an array of pharmacological activities. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a vital role in regulating inflammatory response in renal injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible renal therapeutic effect of phycocyanin isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa Kutzing harvested from high rate algal pond on potassium dichromate (PD)-induced renal injury in rats. Rats were assigned randomly into: Group I: Normal control group. Group II: Rats injected with a single injection of PD (15 mg/kg; s.c) and served as renal injury group. Group III and IV: Rats received C-phycocyanin (25 & 50 mg/Kg; orally), after PD injection, daily for 7 days. Injection of PD induced a marked renal injury, evidenced by a significant increase in kidney functions and renal contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor–alpha (TNF-α), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) In addition PD reduced renal content of reduced glutathione (GSH) and exhibited tubular degeneration and necrosis. C-phycocyanin has renal therapeutic effect against renal injury induced by PD through improving kidney function, down regulation of oxidative stress and TLR4/TNF-α/HSP70 inflammatory pathway as well as modulation of IGF-1.