scholarly journals Caspase-1-Inhibitor AC-YVAD-CMK Inhibits Pyroptosis and Ameliorates Acute Kidney Injury in a Model of Sepsis

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mei Yang ◽  
Jin-tao Fang ◽  
Ni-shang Zhang ◽  
Long-jiang Qin ◽  
Yang-yang Zhuang ◽  
...  

Objective. To observe the protective effect of AC-YVAD-CMK on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury in mice and to explore its possible mechanisms primarily. Methods. Eighteen male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham-operated group (Control), cecal ligation and puncture group (CLP), and CLP model treated with AC-YVAD-CMK group (AC-YVAD-CMK) ( n = 6 in each group). Mice were sacrificed at 24 h after operation, and blood and kidney tissue samples were collected for analyses. Histologic changes were determined microscopically following HE staining. The expression of Ly-6B and CD68 was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Serum concentrations of creatinine (sCR) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18), TNF-α, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by ELISA. The expressions of Caspas-1, NLRP-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in renal tissues were investigated using Western blot. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of GSDMD protein in renal tissues. Results. AC-YVAD-CMK treatment significantly alleviates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury, with decreased histological injury in renal tissues, suppresses the accumulation of neutrophils and macrophages in renal tissues, and decreased sCR and BUN level ( P < 0.05 ). Attenuation of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury was due to the prohibited production of inflammatory cytokines and decrease expression of Caspas-1, NLRP-1, IL-1β, and IL-18 in renal tissues. In addition, AC-YVAD-CMK treatment significantly reduced the expression of GSDMD in renal tissues compared to those observed in controls ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusions. We demonstrated a marked renoprotective effect of caspase-1-inhibitor AC-YVAD-CMK in a rat model of sepsis by inhibition of pyroptosis.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Peng Guo ◽  
Si-Xu Liu ◽  
Qin Yang ◽  
Hong-Yang Liu ◽  
Lu-Lu Xu ◽  
...  

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of sepsis and has also been observed in some patients suffering from the new coronavirus pneumonia COVID-19, which is currently a major global concern. Thymoquinone (TQ) is one of the most active ingredients in Nigella sativa seeds. It has a variety of beneficial properties including anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activities. Here, we investigated the possible protective effects of TQ against kidney damage in septic BALB/c mice. Eight-week-old male BALB/c mice were divided into four groups: control, TQ, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and TQ+CLP. CLP was performed after 2 weeks of TQ gavage. After 48 h, we measured the histopathological alterations in the kidney tissue and the serum levels of creatinine (CRE) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). We also evaluated pyroptosis (NLRP3, caspase-1), apoptosis (caspase-3, caspase-8), proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6)-related protein and gene expression levels. Our results demonstrated that TQ inhibited CLP-induced increased serum CRE and BUN levels. It also significantly inhibited the high levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-3, caspase-8, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 induced by CLP. Furthermore, NF-κB protein level was significantly decreased in the TQ+CLP group than in the CLP group. Together, our results indicate that TQ may be a potential therapeutic agent for sepsis-induced AKI.


2012 ◽  
Vol 303 (10) ◽  
pp. F1443-F1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Hsi Hsing ◽  
Chiou-Feng Lin ◽  
Edmund So ◽  
Ding-Ping Sun ◽  
Tai-Chi Chen ◽  
...  

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-7 protects sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an α2-adrenoceptor (α2-AR) agonist, has anti-inflammatory effects. We investigated the protective effects of DEX on sepsis-induced AKI and the expression of BMP-7 and histone deacetylases (HDACs). In vitro , the effects of DEX or trichostatin A (TSA, an HDAC inhibitor) on TNF-α, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1), BMP-7, and HDAC mRNA expression in LPS-stimulated rat renal tubular epithelial NRK52E cells, was determined using real-time PCR. In vivo, mice were intraperitoneally injected with DEX (25 μg/kg) or saline immediately and 12 h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery. Twenty-four hours after CLP, we examined kidney injury and renal TNF-α, MCP-1, BMP-7, and HDAC expression. Survival was monitored for 120 h. LPS increased HDAC2, HDAC5, TNF-α, and MCP-1 expression, but decreased BMP-7 expression in NRK52E cells. DEX treatment decreased the HDAC2, HDAC5, TNF-α, and MCP-1 expression, but increased BMP-7 and acetyl histone H3 expression, whose effects were blocked by yohimbine, an α2-AR antagonist. With DEX treatment, the LPS-induced TNF-α expression and cell death were attenuated in scRNAi-NRK52E but not BMP-7 RNAi-NRK52E cells. In CLP mice, DEX treatment increased survival and attenuated AKI. The expression of HDAC2, HDAC5, TNF-α, and MCP-1 mRNA in the kidneys of CLP mice was increased, but BMP-7 was decreased. However, DEX treatment reduced those changes. DEX reduces sepsis-induced AKI by decreasing TNF-α and MCP-1 and increasing BMP-7, which is associated with decreasing HDAC2 and HDAC5, as well as increasing acetyl histone H3.


2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (3) ◽  
pp. F535-F542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibin He ◽  
Belda Dursun ◽  
Dong-Jin Oh ◽  
Lawrence Lu ◽  
Sarah Faubel ◽  
...  

We previously reported in ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice that caspase-1-mediated production of interleukin-18 (IL-18) is pathogenic and that macrophage depletion by liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC) is protective. Therefore, our aim was to determine whether macrophages are a source of IL-18 in ischemic AKI in mice. On immunofluorescence staining of the outer stripe of outer medulla, the number of macrophages double stained for CD11b and IL-18 was significantly increased in AKI and significantly decreased by LEC. Adoptive transfer of RAW 264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage line that constitutively expresses IL-18 mRNA, reversed the functional protection against AKI in both LEC-treated wild-type and caspase-1 −/− mice. To test whether IL-18 in macrophages is necessary to cause AKI, we adoptively transferred macrophages in which IL-18 was inhibited. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from wild-type mice, IL-18 binding protein transgenic (IL-18 BP Tg) mice, and IL-18 −/− mice were used. IL-18 BP Tg mice overexpress human IL-18 BP and exhibit decreased biological activity of IL-18. Adoptive transfer of peritoneal macrophages from wild-type as well as IL-18 BP Tg and IL-18 −/− mice reversed the functional protection against AKI in LEC-treated mice. In summary, adoptive transfer of RAW cells, that constitutively express IL-18, reverses the functional protection in macrophage-depleted wild-type and caspase-1 −/− mice with AKI. However, adoptive transfer of peritoneal macrophages in which IL-18 function was inhibited also reverses the functional protection in macrophage-depleted mice. In conclusion, IL-18 from adoptive transfer of macrophages is not sufficient to cause ischemic AKI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 1741-1755
Author(s):  
Nancy S. Younis ◽  
Heba S. Elsewedy ◽  
Tamer M. Shehata ◽  
Maged E. Mohamed

Objectives: Geraniol, a natural monoterpene, is an essential oil component of many plants. Methotrexate is an anti-metabolite drug, used for cancer and autoimmune conditions; however, clinical uses of methotrexate are limited by its concomitant renal injury. This study investigated the efficacy of geraniol to prevent methotrexate-induced acute kidney injury and via scrutinizing the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1, P38MAPK/NF-κB and Bax/Bcl2/caspase-3 and -9 pathways. Methods: Male Wister rats were allocated into five groups: control, geraniol (orally), methotrexate (IP), methotrexate and geraniol (100 and 200 mg/kg). Results: Geraniol effectively reduced the serum levels of creatinine, urea and Kim-1 with an increase in the serum level of albumin when compared to the methotrexate-treated group. Geraniol reduced Keap1, escalated Nrf2 and HO-1, enhanced the antioxidant parameters GSH, SOD, CAT and GSHPx and reduced MDA and NO. Geraniol decreased renal P38 MAPK and NF-κB and ameliorated the inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10. Geraniol negatively regulated the apoptotic mediators Bax and caspase-3 and -9 and increased Bcl2. All the biochemical findings were supported by the alleviation of histopathological changes in kidney tissues. Conclusion: The current findings support that co-administration of geraniol with methotrexate may attenuate methotrexate-induced acute kidney injury.


2019 ◽  
pp. 125-133
Author(s):  
Özlem Öztopuz ◽  
◽  
Hakan Türkön ◽  
Müşerref Hilal Şehitoğlu ◽  
Başak Büyük ◽  
...  

In recent years, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy has been considered as an effective method for the treatment of gentamicin (GM)-induced renal toxicity. However, the findings related to the use of HBO2 for GM toxicity are limited and contradictory. The aim of this study is to investigate the protective role of HBO2 on GM-induced nephrotoxicity. For this purpose, Wistar albino rats (n=28) were randomly divided into four equal groups: C, HBO2, GM and GM+HBO2. GM (100 mg/kg, ip) and HBO2 were applied over seven days. On the eighth day blood and kidney tissue samples were harvested. The albumin, creatinine, and urea levels were determined from serum samples. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) values were analyzed spectrophotometrically. The relative expression level of TNF-α, IL-1β and Kim-1 gene were determined by qRT-PCR assays; histopathologic investigation was completed in kidney tissue samples. Serum urea, albumin and creatinine levels significantly increased in the GM group compared to the GM+HBO2 group. For antioxidant parameters the GM+HBO2 group was not statistically different from the C group but was significantly different compared with the GM group. TNF-α, IL-1β and Kim-1 gene expression levels in the GM group were statistically increased compared to the GM+HBO2 group (p=0.015, p=0.024, p=0.004) respectively. Severe tubular necrosis, epithelial desquamation and mild peritubular hemorrhage were observed in the GM-administrated group, while HBO2 exposure ameliorated these alterations. In conclusion, HBO2 exposure may be defined as a potential method for the prevention of GM-induced renal toxicity.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Amin Mombeini ◽  
Hadi Kalantar ◽  
Elahe Sadeghi ◽  
Mehdi Goudarzi ◽  
Hamidreza Khalili ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent with nephrotoxicity that constraints its clinical application. Berberine is an isoquinoline derivative alkaloid with biological functions like antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The current research intended to examine the nephroprotective impacts of berberine against cyclophosphamide-stimulated nephrotoxicity. Methods Forty animal subjects were randomly separated into five categories of control (Group I). Cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg, i.p., on 7th day) (Group II), and groups III and IV that received berberine 50 and 100 mg/kg orally for seven days and a single injection of cyclophosphamide on 7th day. Group V as berberine (100 mg/kg, alone). On day 8, blood samples were drawn from the retro-orbital sinus to determine serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) as biomarkers for kidney injury. Nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) levels, catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities as oxidative stress factors, tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) levels as inflammatory mediators were assessed in kidney tissue. Results The results of this study demonstrated that berberine was able to protect remarkably the kidney from CP-induced injury through decreasing the level of BUN, Cr, NGAL, KIM-1, NO, MDA TNF-α, IL-1β and increasing the level of GSH, CAT, SOD and GPx activities. Conclusion Berberine may be employed as a natural agent to prevent cyclophosphamide-induced nephrotoxicity through anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siqi Xu ◽  
Youguang Gao ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Siwei Wei ◽  
Zhongqing Chen ◽  
...  

Sepsis often results in damage to multiple organ systems, possibly due to severe mitochondrial dysfunction. Two members of the sirtuin family, SIRT1 and SIRT3, have been implicated in the reversal of mitochondrial damage. The aim of this study was to determine the role of SIRT1/3 in acute kidney injury (AKI) following sepsis in a septic rat model. After drug pretreatment and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model reproduction in the rats, we performed survival time evaluation and kidney tissue extraction and renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC) isolation. We observed reduced SIRT1/3 activity, elevated acetylated SOD2 (ac-SOD2) levels and oxidative stress, and damaged mitochondria in RTECs following sepsis. Treatment with resveratrol (RSV), a chemical SIRT1 activator, effectively restored SIRT1/3 activity, reduced acetylated SOD2 levels, ameliorated oxidative stress and mitochondrial function of RTECs, and prolonged survival time. However, the beneficial effects of RSV were greatly abrogated by Ex527, a selective inhibitor of SIRT1. These results suggest a therapeutic role for SIRT1 in the reversal of AKI in septic rat, which may rely on SIRT3-mediated deacetylation of SOD2. SIRT1/3 activation could therefore be a promising therapeutic strategy to treat sepsis-associated AKI.


2021 ◽  

Background: The aim of this work was to investigate whether Follistatin like 1 (FSTL1) exerted an effect on acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by sepsis, and to explore the molecular mechanism. Methods: A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was established and adenoviral solution was administrated to newborn rats to achieve FSTL1 knockdown. Colorimetric assays measured concentrations of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and ELISA assays were performed to examine TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 levels in serum and kidney tissues. Kidney histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Protein levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), phosphorylated p65 (p-p65) and total p65 (p65) were determined by western blotting. Results: FSTL1 was significantly up-regulated in kidneys following CLP, but subsequent FSTL1 inhibition alleviated AKI. FSTL1 knockdown following CLP inhibited the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and inactivated the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, FSTL1 overexpression activated the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway following CLP, but TLR4 inhibitor TAK242 abolished this effect. Conclusions: FSTL1 aggravates sepsis-induced acute kidney injury through regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-87
Author(s):  
Xiumin Yang ◽  
Chencai Qiao ◽  
Chao Zheng ◽  
Qingjun Deng

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of ligustilide on sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and the signaling pathways involved.Methods: Sepsis-induced AKI was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice. Histopathological renal damage was examined using hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) staining while creatinine and cytokines were measured using commercial kits. Protein levels were determined by Western blotting.Results: Vacuoles, dilations, degeneration, and necrosis were observed in CLP mouse kidneys, but these alterations were countered by 20 mg/kg of ligustilide. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were significantly increased in CLP mice compared with control. Furthermore, the serum levels of these indicators in serum were lowered by ligustilide (p < 0.01). The expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) TLR4 and phosphorylated nuclear factor (NF)-κB in CLP mice were also downregulated by ligustilide. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels increased in CLP mice, but were attenuated by ligustilide (p < 0.01). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels decreased in CLP mice but were increased by ligustilide (p < 0.01). Increased expression of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were observed in CLP mice, and were further enhancced by ligustilide.Conclusion: Ligustilide exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on sepsis-induced AKI via TLR4/NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Keywords: Ligustilide, Sepsis, Acute kidney injury, TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Ping Xu ◽  
Xiao-Ying Ma ◽  
Chen Yang

Sepsis is an inflammatory disorder and leads to severe acute kidney injury (AKI). Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been identified as a critical type of regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that present the important functions in various diseases. In this study, we identified a novel circRNA circTLK1 in the regulation of sepsis-induced AKI. We observed that circTLK1 expression was elevated in the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) rat model compared with that in the control rats. The urine levels of neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) and the serum levels of creatinine (sCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were increased by the CLP treatment in the rats but were blocked by the circTLK1 shRNA. The circTLK1 shRNA reduced the CLP-induced kidney injury in the rats. The circTLK1 knockdown repressed oxidation stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the sepsis-related AKI rat model. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment increased the production of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in the HK-2 cells, while the circTLK1 shRNA could attenuate the enhancement in the cells. Bax and cleaved caspase-3 expression was upregulated, but Bcl-2 expression was downregulated by the LPS in the HK-2 cells, in which circTLK1 depletion reversed this effect in the cells. The depletion of circTLK1 attenuated the LPS-induced apoptosis in the HK-2 cells. CircTLK1 enhanced HMGB1 expression by sponging miR-106a-5p in the HK-2 cells, and miR-106a-5p and HMGB1 were involved in circTLK1-meidated injury of LPS-treated cells. Therefore, we concluded that circTLK1 contributed to sepsis-associated AKI by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress through the miR-106a-5p/HMGB1 axis. CircTLK1 and miR-106a-5p may be employed as the potential targets for the treatment of AKI.


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