Immune suppression blocks sodium sensitive hypertension following recovery from ischemic acute renal failure

Rats develop NaCl dependent hypertension following recovery from ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). Renal infiltration of immune cells may be associated with chronic renal disease and hypertension in this model. This study determined the effect of immune suppression on NaCl sensitive hypertension following recovery from ischemia reperfusion (I/R) induced ARF. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats on 0.4% NaCl chow were subjected to 40 minute bilateral I/R (n=13) or control sham surgery (n=19). Following 35 days of recovery, rats were switched to 4.0% NaCl chow for 28 days and given 20 mg/kg mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a lymphocyte suppressive agent, or vehicle IP injections daily. Conscious mean arterial pressure (MAP) following 4 weeks of high salt (HS) treatment was significantly higher in I/R rats (145±9 mmHg) compared to I/R MMF treated rats (117±2 mmHg) and sham operated controls. MMF also ameliorated salt induced manifestations of chronic kidney disease. Conscious creatinine clearance was no different in MMF treated I/R rats (0.51±0.1 ml/min/100gbwt) and sham rats but significantly higher than vehicle I/R rats treated with HS (0.30±0.1 ml/min/100gbwt). MMF treatment in I/R rats (2.8±0.2 g) also reduced renal hypertrophy seen with I/R injury (3.3±0.5 g). These data suggest that immune suppression following I/R prevents sodium sensitive hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Support by DK‐6283 and HL‐29587.