Frontiers in Veterinary Science (Nov 2023)

Quercetin protects cadmium-induced renal injuries in mice by inhibiting cell pyroptosis

  • Juyu Wang,
  • Jieyan Yang,
  • Kai Liu,
  • Weijie Qu,
  • Kuan Wang,
  • Yu Zhao,
  • Yaxiong Zhou,
  • Xiang Liu,
  • Limei Zhang,
  • Xiaolong Gu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1319857
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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The toxic heavy metal cadmium (Cd) has a significant impact on kidney health. Documents manifested that non-toxic flavonoid quercetin can reduce Cd-induced kidney damage by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting apoptosis, while the effect of quercetin on Cd-induced renal cell pyroptosis has not been elucidated. In this study, we established a model of Cd poisoning treated with quercetin both in vitro and in vivo. Results revealed that quercetin effectively reversed the decrease in Cd-induced cell viability. Furthermore, Cd increased blood urea nitrogen while reducing GPX and SOD levels, caused histopathological injuries in kidney with a significantly elevated cell pyroptosis characterized by enhanced levels of proteins representing assembly (NLRP3) and activation (pro IL-1β, cleaved IL-1β, and IL-18) of NLRP3 inflammasome as well as pyroptosis executor (pro caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1). However, quercetin administration alleviated kidney injuries above by decreasing cell pyroptosis. Overall, it suggests that kidney cells are susceptible to pyroptotic cell death due to Cd exposure; while quercetin exhibits protective effects through cell pyroptosis inhibition.

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