Histological Observation of Kidney Pathology after Excessive Iron in Sheep
Under a 100× magnification microscope. The tubular interstitial space was widened and more loosely arranged in the excessive iron group after H&E staining; under high magnification, localized tubular lesions of M-iron and H-iron were found, and tubular epithelial cells were excreted and necrotic, and the tubular interstitial space was accompanied by fibrin exudation and a small amount of inflammatory cell infiltration (Fig. 1). After Perls staining, no dispersion of iron-containing hemoglobin was found. The structural integrity of the glomeruli and tubules was observed in the control group following Masson staining, without significant collagen fibril hyperplasia. Glomerular pyknosis was observed in the excessive iron group, along with an iron dose-dependent increase in collagen fibril area. The glomerular basal membrane wrinkled, tubular collagen fibers exuded, and the lumen narrowed. Fibrous necrosis of the small artery walls of the entrance glomerulus (Fig. 2).
Changes of Protein Expression in Kidney of Excessive Iron-Fed Sheep
As shown in Table 2, the protein content of kidney IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ decreased with increased iron addition in excessive iron sheep, and IL-1β was extreme significantly lower in the M-iron and H-iron groups than in the control group (p < 0.01), TNF-α and IFN-γ were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05) (Fig. 3).
With increasing iron addition, the protein contents of IL-2, IL-6, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 in sheep’s kidneys increased (Table 2, Table 3). IL-2, IL-6, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 were significantly or extreme significantly higher in the M-iron and H-iron groups than in the control group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01); IL-6 and NF-κB were significantly or extreme significantly higher in the L-iron group than in the control group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01); IL-2 and TGF-β1 were not significantly different in the L-iron group compared to the control group (p > 0.05) (Fig. 3, Fig. 4).
Table 2 Effect of excessive iron on the kidney IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-6 protein contents in sheep(μmol/L).
Item
|
CON
|
L-iron
|
M-iron
|
H-iron
|
IL-1β
|
241.13±31.325
|
222.62±7.943
|
162.59±4.956**
|
79.70±8.980**
|
TNF-α
|
361.51±12.424
|
331.76±19.224
|
310.19±11.895*
|
292.94±30.677*
|
IFN-γ
|
460.04±13.647
|
456.16±0.172
|
392.45±7.799*
|
366.97±28.799*
|
IL-2
|
209.52±4.099
|
231.95±17.050
|
271.81±4.016*
|
277.05±20.418**
|
IL-6
|
1087.53±11.601
|
1244.64±98.899*
|
1271.78±83.336*
|
1321.60±73.163*
|
Compared with the control group, the values with asterisk significantly difference (* or p < 0.05), extreme significantly difference (** or p < 0.01), and no significantly (p > 0.05). Data is expressed as mean ± SD. Same as blow.
Table 3 Effect of excessive iron on the kidney NF-κB and TGF-β1 protein contents in sheep (Gray value ratio)
Item
|
CON
|
L-iron
|
M-iron
|
H-iron
|
NF-κB
|
0.86±0.032
|
1.19±0.027**
|
1.42±0.021**
|
1.56±0.045**
|
TGF-β1
|
0.94±0.015
|
0.96±0.006
|
1.02±0.006*
|
1.10±0.036**
|
Changes of Inflammatory Factor mRNA Expression in Kidney of Excessive Iron-Fed Sheep
As shown in Table 4, the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ mRNAs, which are related inflammatory factors, decreased in sheep kidneys as iron addition increased. The expression of IL-1β and IFN-γ was significantly lower in each excessive iron group than in the control group (p < 0.01), TNF-α was significantly lower in the M-iron and H-iron groups (p < 0.01), IL-1β, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were significantly or extreme significantly lower in the H-iron group than in the L-iron and M-iron groups (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01)(Fig.5).
With the addition of iron, the expression of IL-2, IL-6, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 mRNA increased. IL-2, IL-6, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 were significantly or extreme significantly higher in each excess iron group than in the control group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). Except for the IL-2 M-iron and H-iron groups, which were not significantly different, the H-iron group was significantly or extreme significantly higher than the L-iron and M-iron groups (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) (Fig.5).
Table 4 Effect of excessive iron on the kidney IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-6, NF-κB, and TGF-β1 mRNA expression in sheep
Item
|
CON
|
L-iron
|
M-iron
|
H-iron
|
IL-1β
|
1.00±0.000
|
0.84±0.017**
|
0.82±0.017**
|
0.40±0.004**
|
TNF-α
|
1.00±0.000
|
0.96±0.018
|
0.54±0.031**
|
0.15±0.027**
|
IFN-γ
|
1.00±0.000
|
0.48±0.006**
|
0.39±0.028**
|
0.28±0.020**
|
IL-2
|
1.00±0.000
|
4.36±0.434*
|
9.78±0.279**
|
12.86±0.575**
|
IL-6
|
1.00±0.000
|
3.238±0.464*
|
3.784±0.225*
|
5.50±0.166**
|
NF-κB
|
1.00±0.000
|
3.85±0.336*
|
4.10±0.479**
|
7.05±0.154**
|
TGF-β1
|
1.00±0.000
|
5.01±0.585**
|
8.63±0.143**
|
13.78±0.598**
|