Synergistic Renoprotective Effect of Melatonin and Zileuton by Inhibition of Ferroptosis via the AKT/mTOR/NRF2 Signaling in Kidney Injury and Fibrosis.
Kyung Hee Jung, Sang Eun Kim, Han Gyeol Go, Yun Ji Lee, Min Seok Park, Soyeon Ko, Beom Seok Han, Young-Chan Yoon, Ye Jin Cho, Pureunchowon Lee, Sang-Ho Lee, Kipyo Kim, Soon-Sun Hong
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引用次数: 3
Abstract
According to recent evidence, ferroptosis is a major cell death mechanism in the pathogenesis of kidney injury and fibrosis. Despite the renoprotective effects of classical ferroptosis inhibitors, therapeutic approaches targeting kidney ferroptosis remain limited. In this study, we assessed the renoprotective effects of melatonin and zileuton as a novel therapeutic strategy against ferroptosis-mediated kidney injury and fibrosis. First, we identified RSL3-induced ferroptosis in renal tubular epithelial HK-2 and HKC-8 cells. Lipid peroxidation and cell death induced by RSL3 were synergistically mitigated by the combination of melatonin and zileuton. Combination treatment significantly downregulated the expression of ferroptosis-associated proteins, 4-HNE and HO-1, and upregulated the expression of GPX4. The expression levels of p-AKT and p-mTOR also increased, in addition to that of NRF2 in renal tubular epithelial cells. When melatonin (20 mg/kg) and zileuton (20 mg/kg) were administered to a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model, the combination significantly reduced tubular injury and fibrosis by decreasing the expression of profibrotic markers, such as α-SMA and fibronectin. More importantly, the combination ameliorated the increase in 4-HNE levels and decreased GPX4 expression in UUO mice. Overall, the combination of melatonin and zileuton was found to effectively ameliorate ferroptosis-related kidney injury by upregulating the AKT/mTOR/ NRF2 signaling pathway, suggesting a promising therapeutic strategy for protection against ferroptosis-mediated kidney injury and fibrosis.
期刊介绍:
Biomolecules & Therapeutics (Biomolecules & Therapeutics) (Print ISSN 1976-9148, Online ISSN 2005-4483) is an international, peer-reviewed, open access journal that covers pharmacological and toxicological fields related to bioactive molecules and therapeutics. It was launched in 1993 as "The Journal of Applied Pharmacology (ISSN 1225-6110)", and renamed "Biomolecules & Therapeutics" (Biomol Ther: abbreviated form) in 2008 (Volume 16, No. 1). It is published bimonthly in January, March, May, July, September and November. All manuscripts should be creative, informative, and contribute to the development of new drugs. Articles in the following categories are published: review articles and research articles.