Recently, we demonstrated that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARalpha) ligand ameliorates cisplatin-induced acute renal failure (ARF) by preventing inhibition of substrate oxidation, and also by preventing apoptosis and necrosis of the proximal tubule (Li S, Bhatt R, Megyesi J, Gokden N, Shah SV, and Portilla D. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 287: F990-F998, 2004). In the following studies, we examined the protective effect of PPARalpha ligand on cisplatin-induced inflammatory responses during ARF. Mice subjected to a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin developed ARF at day 3. Cisplatin increased mRNA and protein expression of TNF-alpha, RANTES, and also upregulated endothelial adhesion molecules ICAM-1/VCAM-1 and chemokine receptors CCR1/CCR5. Cisplatin also led to neutrophil infiltration in the corticomedullary region. Pretreatment of wild-type mice with WY-14,643, a fibrate class of PPARalpha ligands, before cisplatin significantly suppressed cisplatin-induced upregulation of cytokine/chemokine expression, prevented neutrophil accumulation, and ameliorated renal dysfunction. In contrast, treatment with PPARalpha ligand before cisplatin did not prevent cytokine/chemokine production, neutrophil accumulation, and did not protect kidney function in PPARalpha null mice. In addition, we observed that cisplatin-induced NF-kappaB binding activity in nuclear extracts from wild-type mice was markedly reduced by treatment with PPARalpha ligand. These results demonstrate that PPARalpha exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in kidney tissue by a mechanism that includes inhibition of NF-kappaB DNA binding activity, and this effect results in inhibition of neutrophil infiltration, cytokine/chemokine release, and amelioration of cisplatin-induced ARF.