Iron-induced oxidative stress has been found to be a central player in the pathogenesis of kidney injury. Recent studies have indicated H2 can be used as a novel antioxidant to protect cells. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of H2 against chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced renal injury and its correlation mechanism involved in iron metabolism. We found that CIH-induced renal iron overloaded along with increased apoptosis and oxidative stress. Iron accumulates mainly occurred in the proximal tubule epithelial cells of rats as showed by Perl’s stain. Moreover, we found that CIH could promote renal transferrin receptor and divalent metal transporter-1 expression, inhibit ceruloplasmin expression. Renal injury, apoptosis and oxidative stress induced by CIH were strikingly attenuated in H2 treated rats. In conclusion, hydrogen may attenuate CIH-induced renal injury at least partially via inhibiting renal iron overload.
