Open AccessEpidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition with Erlotinib Partially Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats
Author(s) -
Yukihiro Wada,
Masayuki Iyoda,
Keīichi Matsumoto,
Yuki Shindo-Hirai,
Yoshinori Kuno,
Yorihiro Yamamoto,
Taihei Suzuki,
Tomohiro Saito,
Ken Iseri,
Takanori Shibata
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0111728
Subject(s) - erlotinib , epidermal growth factor receptor , pharmacology , nephrotoxicity , erlotinib hydrochloride , egfr inhibitors , cancer research , apoptosis , medicine , cisplatin , tyrosine kinase , tyrosine kinase inhibitor , chemistry , kidney , cancer , receptor , chemotherapy , biochemistry
The effects of blocking the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in acute kidney injury (AKI) are controversial. Here we investigated the renoprotective effect of erlotinib, a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor that can block EGFR activity, on cisplatin (CP)-induced AKI. Groups of animals were given either erlotinib or vehicle from one day before up to Day 3 following induction of CP- nephrotoxicity (CP-N). In addition, we analyzed the effects of erlotinib on signaling pathways involved in CP-N by using human renal proximal tubular cells (HK-2). Compared to controls, rats treated with erlotinib exhibited significant improvement of renal function and attenuation of tubulointerstitial injury, and reduced the number of apoptotic and proliferating cells. Erlotinib-treated rats had a significant reduction of renal cortical mRNA for profibrogenic genes. The Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA and protein ratios were significantly reduced by erlotinib treatment. In vitro , we observed that erlotinib significantly reduced the phosphorylation of MEK1 and Akt, processes that were induced by CP in HK-2. Taken together, these data indicate that erlotinib has renoprotective properties that are likely mediated through decreases in the apoptosis and proliferation of tubular cells, effects that reflect inhibition of downstream signaling pathways of EGFR. These results suggest that erlotinib may be useful for preventing AKI in patients receiving CP chemotherapy.