Efficacy of a mitochondrion-targeting agent for reducing the level of urinary protein in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside-induced minimal-change nephrotic syndrome

Background Oxidative stress is a major factor responsible for minimal-change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS), which occurs most commonly in children. However, the influence of oxidative stress localized to mitochondria remains unclear. We examined the effect of a mitochondrion-targeting antioxidant, MitoTEMPO, in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN)-induced MCNS to clarify the degree to which mitochondrial oxidative stress affects MCNS. Materials and methods Thirty Wistar rats were divided into three groups: normal saline group (n = 7), PAN group (n = 12), and PAN + MitoTEMPO group (n = 11). Rats in the PAN and PAN + MitoTEMPO groups received PAN on day 1, and those in the PAN + MitoTEMPO group received MitoTEMPO on days 0 to 9. Whole-day urine samples were collected on days 3 and 9, and samples of glomeruli and blood were taken for measurement of lipid peroxidation products. We also estimated the mitochondrial damage score in podocytes in all 3 groups using electron microscopy. Results Urinary protein excretion on day 9 and the levels of lipid peroxidation products in urine, glomeruli, and blood were significantly lower in the PAN + MitoTEMPO group than in the PAN group (p = 0.0019, p = 0.011, p = 0.039, p = 0.030). The mitochondrial damage score in podocytes was significantly lower in the PAN + MitoTEMPO group than in the PAN group (p <0.0001). Conclusions This mitochondrion-targeting agent was shown to reduce oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage in a MCNS model. A radical scavenger targeting mitochondria could be a promising drug for treatment of MCNS.