Renal Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with celldeath by apoptosis. In one study that assessed theefficacy of TUDCA in AKI, it was found that GRP 78 and CHOP expression was blocked, which reduced caspase 12 activation and apoptosis in nephrons of the kidney.79 Treated rats were found to exhibit nephroprotection after ischemia/reperfusion induced AKI. TUDCA
also inhibited the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and up-regulated survival pathways.80 Dysfunction of the UPR in the proximal tubules can cause proteinuriainduced tubulointerstitial lesions that result in tubular
damage and dysfunction.81 In these conditions, TUDCA has been shown to stabilize the UPR and its associated pathways and prevent apoptosis.