Investigation of the role of elabela hormone in rat kidney injury

Renal injury is a process that is still unknown for its etiopathogenesis, leaving long-term permanent marks. The main target in renal fibrosis is to slow down the process and ultimately restore tissue damage. The identification of molecules responsible for this process is very important in this respect. It is thought that the protein named Elabela (Ela), which is a recently described hormone known to be synthesized in the renal system, may be involved in these pathways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change and the possible effect of this hormone in Doxorubicin (Dox) induced renal fibrosis damage in rats. A total of 28 male wistar albino rats were divided into 7 animals in each group that consists of control, Ela-21, Dox and Dox + Ela-21. For the determination of Elabela, KIM-1, NGAL, IL-6, Smad3, Collagen I and III gene expressions in blood and kidney tissues were used qRT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry analyzes. Compared with the control group, Ela-21 practise was shown to normalize increased serum IL-6, NGAL, Kim-1, MDA and biochemical parameters and histologically reduce renal tubule and glomerular damage in the Dox group. The current study is the first to demonstrate the protective effects of Ela-21 peptide in rat Dox-induced renal injury model as molecularly, histologically and biochemically. These data indicate that Ela may be a potential candidate for the rehabilitation of rat kidney injury. Based on the study data, there is a need to support or confirm data by studying the efficacy of Ela-21 peptide in another rat kidney injury models. Keywords: Fibrosis, Apela/Elabela/Toddler, kidney injury, Doxorubicin