Augmenter of liver regeneration plays a protective role against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in renal proximal tubule cells

Oxidative stress plays an important role in cellular destruction. Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is an anti-apoptotic factor that is expressed in all mammalian cells and functions as an anti-oxidant by stimulating the expression of a secretory isoform of clusterin and inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Previous work from our group showed that ALR expression is upregulated in acute kidney injury (AKI) rats, and recombinant human ALR reduces tubular injury. In the present study, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing of ALR to examine its role in H2O2 induced mitochondrial injury and apoptosis. Knockdown of ALR increased ROS levels, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased the release of mitochondrial proteins and the rate of apoptosis in response to H2O2. In addition, the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased in siRNA/ALR groups treated with H2O2. These data confirm the protective role of ALR against oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial injury and suggest a potential mechanism underlying the protective role of ALR in AKI.