Expression of Proinflammatory Factors in Renal Cortex Induced by Methylmalonic Acid

Background: Methylmalonic aciduria is an inborn error of metabolism that causes renal failure and tubulointerstitial (TI) nephritis as complications. This study aimed to examine the levels of expression of several genes related to inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial function in the renal cortex of rats receiving methylmalonic acid (MMA). Methods: Rats received MMA subcutaneously for a month. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), nuclear factor-kappa B, interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) genes were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. We also examined transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) related to TI fibrosis, c-FOS, belonging to the immediate early gene family of transcription factors, and expression of SIRT1, related to energy production. Results: There was significantly higher expression of TNFα and a trend toward a higher level of TGF-β transcripts in the methylmalonic model group compared with the controls. However, SIRT1 expression was not different a...