Objective: This study was designed to investigate the expression of syndecan-1 (Sdc-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with acute kidney injury, as well as the association between Sdc-1 and indicators [such as serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN)] related to renal function.
Materials and methods: A total of 120 clean grade 2-week-old SD rats were selected and randomized into experimental group and control group (n=60). At 12 h (T1), 24 h (T2), 36 h (T3), 48 h (T4) after the model was established, 3 mL blood from abdominal aorta was taken, and Sdc-1, PKC, VEGF, serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN) and other indicators were detected by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).
Results: The expression levels of Sdc-1, PKC and VEGF in the experimental group were increasing from T1 to T4, with statistically significant difference between every two time points (p<0.05); the expression levels of Scr and BUN in the experimental group was increasing from T1 to T4, with statistically significant difference between every two time points (p<0.05). The level of Sdc-1 in the serum of rats in the experimental group was positively correlated with Scr (r=0.668, p<0.001), negatively correlated with BUN (r=0.722, p<0.001), and positively correlated with BUN (r=0.722, p<0.001); PKC level was positively correlated with Scr (r=0.589, p<0.001), BUN (r=0.788, p<0.001), and VEGF level was positively correlated with Scr (r=0.666, p<0.001), BUN (r=0.784, p<0.001).
Conclusions: As the concentration of syndecan-1 increases gradually, renal dysfunction aggravates accordingly, so syndecan-1 can be used as a marker of acute kidney injury and can be used to judge the degree of kidney injury at an early stage.