Cyclooxygenase 1 and/or 2 blockade ameliorates the renal tissue damage triggered by ischemia and reperfusion injury

Ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common event in organ transplantation, being implicated as a potential contributor for the development of chronic allograft nephropathy. There are new evidences showing a tissue inflammatory response following renal IRI. Cyclooxygenases (COX) 1 and 2 can be detected in tissue submitted to IRI and may have impact on organ function outcome. We evaluated the role of COX inhibition on the renal tissue damage that follows IRI. Mice were submitted to 45 min of renal pedicle ligature and allowed to reperfuse for 24, 48, 72 and 120 h. Blood and kidney samples were collected at reperfusion times. mRNA was extracted from the kidney samples to amplify COX-1, COX-2 and β-actin genes. Animals were pretreated with indomethacin or rofecoxib before the surgery. Indomethacin treatment induced a better renal function (serum urea) when compared to control animals at 24, 48 and 72 h (219±54.5 vs. 338±51 mg/dl; 106±51 vs. 326±86 mg/dl; 94±14 vs. 138±38 mg/dl, respectively). Surprisingly, rofecoxib use was associated with even better renal improvement following IR. Animals treated with the later drug showed lower urea values at 24 h post reperfusion compared to indomethacin-treated animals (128±33 vs. 219±54.5 mg/dl, P