A Possible Role of Nrf2 in Prevention of Renal Oxidative Damage by Ferric Nitrilotriacetate

To ascertain the possible roles of nuclear erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a key transcription factor of phase 2 drug-metabolizing enzymes, in renal cellular defense against oxidative stress, wild-type and Nrf2-knockout (–/–) mice were treated with ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) at doses of 3 or 6 mg iron/kg body weight. After Fe-NTA treatment, Nrf2 (–/–) mice consistently showed lower levels of glutathione (GSH) in the kidney at the low dose and the liver at the high dose than the wild-type mice. Gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase (GCL) activity in the kidney and liver of Nrf2 (–/–) mice was also consistently lower than in wild-type mice after the Fe-NTA treatment. Histopathological examination revealed that nephrotoxicity of Fe-NTA, reflected in necrosis of renal tubule epithelial cells following nuclear damage, was more severe in the Nrf2 (–/–) mice than in their wild-type counterparts. Overall, the data suggest that Nrf2 (–/–) mice are unable to compensate for depletion of renal GSH because of ...