A. S. Serbin, T. V. Koval*, O. I. Kharchenko,
L. I. Kot, T. R. Andriichuk

Educational and Scientific Center “Institute of Biology and Medicine”,
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Ukraine;
*e-mail: kovaltanya@knu.uat

Received: 19 January 2026; Revised: 29 January 2026;
Accepted: 03 April 2026; Available on-line: April 2026

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is a systemic metabolic disorder known to impair renal function. The kidneys play a crucial role in homocysteine (Hcy) clearance from the bloodstream and represent a key location for Hcy-related metabolic disturbances. A principal mechanism underlying Hcy-induced injury of renal tissue is inflammation, however, the age-related renal cytokine profile under HHcy conditions remains insufficiently characterized. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the kidneys of rats of different ages with experimental HHcy. The study was performed on nonlinear male rats divided into groups of young (one-month-old) and adult (six-month-old) animals with HHcy as well as control animals of the same age. HHcy was induced by the daily intragastric administration of D,L-homocysteine thiolactone (200 mg·kg^-1 body weight) for eight weeks. At the end of the experimental period, the kidneys were excised for homogenate preparation. The levels of cytokines IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were determined using ELISA. The renal level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was decreased in both age groups of rats with HHcy relative to control values. In young rats with HHcy, increased renal levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α were found, while in adult rats with HHcy, decreased renal levels of IL-6 and TNF-α compared to the age-matched control group were observed. These findings indicate that HHcy induces renal cytokine profile alterations that depend on the age of the animals­.