Expression of nuclear factor κB/I-κB system in renal injury after ischemia/reperfusion in hind limbs of rats

Objective: To investigate the activation and expression of nuclear factor -κB(NF-κB)/I-κB system in renal injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) of skeletal muscle in rats. Methods: The rat model of hind limbs I/R injury was established and 48 rats were divided into three groups: sham operation group(groupⅠ, n =8), ischemia group(groupⅡ, n =8), I/R injury group (groupⅢ, n =32). I/R group were divided by 4 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after reperfusion. The changes of mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB p65 / IκBβ in kidney were studied by RT-PCR or Western blot. Results: In group Ⅲ, NF-κB p65 mRNA rose quickly after reperfusion and reached the peak 12 hours after reperfusion (36.5%±6.6%), and p65 detected by Western blot reached the peak 12 hours after reperfusion(66.0%±10.3%) too and then decreased slowly, still high level 48 hours after reperfusion (21.0%±5.4%). Expression of IκBβ also increased early reperfusion and mostly on 24 hours after reperfusion. Conclusions: NF-κB / IκBβ system may be an important role in the damage of renal function induced by skeletal muscle I/R injury.