Exposure to microcysatin-LR (MC-LR) is known to result in kidney damage, however the underlying mechanisms involved in MC-LR-initiated renal injury are not known. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of exposure to MC-LR on human embryo kidney (HEK 293) cell in vitro and male C57BL/6 in vivo. In the in vitro study, HEK 293 cells were incubated with MC-LR (20 mu M) for 24 hr. Treatment with MC-LR significantly increased the protein expression of RAF and ERK as well as mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta. These findings were confirmed...
