Vitamin C reduces vancomycin-related nephrotoxicity through the inhibition of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in mice.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Vancomycin (VCM) is an antibiotic widely used to treat a range of serious bacterial infections; however, it is associated with nephrotoxicity. Vitamin C (VC) is a classical antioxidant that can alleviate various organ injuries and inflammatory responses by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to examine the effect of VC on VCM-related nephrotoxicity in mice.

METHODS:

Mice were randomized into four groups: control, VCM (400 mg/kg/day), VCM (400 mg/kg/day) + VC (200 mg/kg/day), and VC (200 mg/kg/day) groups. Both VCM and VC were administered via intraperitoneal injection for 7 d, after which kidney and blood samples were collected and evaluated. Creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) were measured.

RESULTS:

In the VCM group, kidney index, renal injury score, cell apoptosis, serum Cr and BUN, and kidney Cr, BUN, MDA, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB were higher compared to the control group (all P<0.05), while body weight and kidney SOD activity were lower (both P<0.05). By contrast, no differences were observed between the control and VC groups (VC and VCM + VC groups) for all these indicators.

CONCLUSIONS:

The antioxidant VC reduces VCM-related renal injury by reducing oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, and inflammation.

• Authors: Juan He, Wenyun Xu, Xiaoxiao Zheng, Bing Zhao, Tongtian Ni, Ping Yu, Siyu Deng, Xiaoxia Pan, Erzhen Chen, Enqiang Mao, Xiaolan Bian
• Journal: Annals of translational medicine (Ann Transl Med) Vol. 9 Issue 16 Pg. 1319 (Aug 2021) ISSN: 2305-5839 [Print] China
• PMID: 34532456 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: 2021 Annals of Translational Medicine. All rights reserved.