Experimental study on the inhibition of ferroptosis by Liangxue Huoxue decoction to alleviate sepsis-induced acute kidney injury
ZHUO Yu-zhen,YANG Lei,ZHOU Min
Abstract:
Objective To observe the protective effect and mechanism of Liangxue Huoxue decoction on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice. Methods Fifteen male C57BL/6 mice were used to establish a sepsis-induced AKI mouse model by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and the mice were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group(Sham group), model group(CLP group), and Liangxue Huoxue decoction group(LXHX group). The LXHX group was received intragastric administration of the Liangxue Huoxue decoction (6 g/kg) once daily for 2 consecutive days. The Sham and CLP group were given the same dose of normal saline by gavage. Samples were collected under anesthesia 24 hours after the operation. The pathological changes of renal tissue were observed by HE staining. The contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in mouse renal tissues were detected by biochemical methods. Renal function was assessed by measuring serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in renal tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein expression levels of ferroptosis-related markers (SLC7A11, GPX4), Nrf2, and HO-1 in renal tissue were analyzed by Western blotting. Results The Liangxue Huoxue decoction can improve renal function impairment and renal tissue pathological damage in septic mice, reduce the levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 and the content of MDA in renal tissue, and simultaneously increase the content of SOD and GSH in renal tissue as well as the protein levels of SLC7A11, GPX4, Nrf2, and HO-1( P <0.05). Conclusion The Liangxue Huoxue decoction can improve the pathological damage of renal tissue and renal function in sepsis-induced AKI. The mechanism may be to exert a protective effect by inhibiting ferroptosis of renal tissue.
