蘋果多酚減少大鼠單側輸尿管阻塞造成的發炎反應

腎臟纖維化是許多慢性腎臟病變，共同及最終的病理路徑。而單側輸尿管阻塞 (Unilateral ureteral obstruction, UUO) 的動物模式是一種適合模擬腎臟漸進式發炎過程的病理模型。這種動物模式可以充分顯示腎臟巨噬細胞增生、腎間質纖維化、腎小管萎縮以及腎水腫 (Hydronephrosis) 等的病徵。多酚類化合物具有抗氧化和抗發炎性質，有研究指出蘋果多酚所含的多酚及黃酮類物質對於抗氧化、預防心腦血管疾病及抗發炎有幫助。故本實驗的目的是探討蘋果多酚對UUO大鼠的腎臟發炎反應及後續纖維化的影響。大白鼠經由手術將單側輸尿管結紮一周後，分別以不同劑量蘋果多酚 (0.05、0.1％及0.15％) 餵食大鼠，連續給予三週。結果顯示，蘋果多酚減少UUO所造成的腎小管擴張 (Tubular dilatation) 及腎間質容積變寬。它也可以降低炎症指標的表達，如ED-1和MCP-1。此外，蘋果多酚也顯著減少纖維化指標的表達，如TGF-β和α-SMA。結果顯示蘋果多酚對UUO誘導的腎臟損傷具有延緩的作用。

Renal fibrosis is the common final pathological pathway of most progressive renal diseases. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) is an animal model of mimic progressive fibrosis renal disease that can reproducibly demonstrate this pathological progress which shows macrophage proliferation, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and hydronephrosis.Polyphenols possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Recent studies show that apples and apple polyphenol(AP) possess several biological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, prevention of cardiovascular disease and anti-allergy, anti-tumour, hair growth-promotion, and obesity prevention. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AP on the inflammatory response and subsequent fibrotic change of the kidneys in UUO rats. We used the rat model of UUO in duced renal fibrosis to evaluate the anti-fibrosis effect of AP. After completing the UUO surgery a week, 0.05, 0.1, or 0.15% of AP was given to the rats for 3 weeks. The results show that AP reduces tubular dilatation and renal interstitial volume in UUO rats. It can also reduce the expression of inflammatory markers, ED-1 and MCP-1. In addition, apple polyphenols also significantly reduce the expression of profibrotic markers, TGF-β and α-SMA. The results show that AP has delayed effects in UUO-induced renal injury.