The synthetic polyphenol tert-butyl-bisphenol inhibits myoglobin-induced dysfunction in cultured kidney epithelial cells.

Abstract Rhabdomyolysis caused by severe burn releases extracellular myoglobin (Mb) that accumulates in the kidney and urine (maximum [Mb] approximately 50 microM) (termed myoglobinuria). Extracellular Mb can be a pro-oxidant. This study cultured Madin-Darby-canine-kidney-Type-II (MDCK II) cells in the presence of Mb and tested whether supplementation with a synthetic tert-butyl-polyphenol (tert-butyl-bisphenol; t-BP) protects these renal cells from dysfunction. In the absence of t-BP, cells exposed to 0-100 microM Mb for 24 h showed a dose-dependent decrease in ATP and the total thiol (TSH) redox status without loss of viability. Gene expression of superoxide dismutases-1/2, haemoxygenase-1 and tumour necrosis factor increased and receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin and monolayer permeability decreased significantly. Supplementation with t-BP before Mb-insult maintained ATP and the TSH redox status, diminished antioxidant/pro-inflammatory gene responses, enhanced monolayer permissiveness and restored transferrin uptake. Overall, bolstering the total antioxidant capacity of the kidney may protect against oxidative stress induced by experimental myoglobinuria.