Ameliorative effect of ononin on the inflammatory response in doxorubicin-induced acute kidney injury miceOA

Background:Acute kidney injury(AKI),characterized by rapid renal dysfunction(KDIGO 2022 criteria:48-hour doubling of serum creatinine or<0.5 mL/kg/h urine output for>6 h),affects 13.3 million people annually with>20%mortality.Its progression involves metabolic imbalances,toxin accumulation,and multiorgan failure,often culminating in chronic kidney disease.Current therapies(fluid resuscitation,diuretics,renal replacement therapy)remain limited.Inflammation drives AKI pathogenesis:renal insults(ischemia,toxins)trigger tubular cell release of pro-inflammatory mediators(TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-6),activating neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL)and dysregulating P38 MAPK/ERK pathways.This cascade promotes leukocyte infiltration,oxidative stress,and apoptosis,exacerbating renal damage.Ononin,a flavonoid from Astragali Radix,shows multi-target potential by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines,modulating signaling,and mitigating oxidative stress.Its dual anti-inflammatory/antioxidant properties position it as a promising candidate for AKI intervention.Exploring the ameliorative effect of ononin on the inflammatory response Ameliorative effect of ononin on the inflammatory response in doxorubicin-induced AKI mice.Methods:We used network pharmacology to explore ononin’s target molecules and AKI-related disease molecules,identified their intersections,and predicted potential mechanisms via enrichment analysis,followed by molecular docking verification.For in-vivo validation,50 mice were randomly divided into five groups(n=10/group):Control,Model,Ononin-L(15 mg/kg),Ononin-H(60 mg/kg),and Dexamethasone(2.6 mg/kg).An AKI model was established by intravenous tail-vein injection of Doxorubicin(15 mg/kg).Samples were collected 12 h post-induction.We calculated the renal coefficient,examined renal histopathology using hematoxylin and eosin(HE),periodic acid-Schiff(PAS),and Masson’s trichrome(MASSON)staining,and observed mitochondrial morphology by electron microscopy(EM).ELISA was used to measure NGAL,serum creatinine(Scr),and blood urea nitrogen(BUN)levels in serum.Immunofluorescence(IF)evaluated the expression of P-P38,P-ERK,NGAL,and KIM-1 in renal tissues.RT-qPCR assessed the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines,MAPK pathway components,and renal injury markers in kidney tissues.Western Blot(WB)quantified P-P38,P38 MAPK,P-ERK,ERK,NGAL,and KIM-1 in renal tissues.Results:Network pharmacology analysis suggested that ononin could attenuate AKI through its anti-inflammatory properties and regulation of the MAPK signaling pathway.The Model group exhibited a significantly elevated renal coefficient(P<0.05),severe histopathological damage,and mitochondrial dysfunction compared to controls.Serum levels of NGAL,Scr,and BUN were markedly increased(P<0.05),indicating impaired renal function.Enhanced fluorescence signals of P-P38 MAPK,P-ERK,NGAL,and KIM-1 suggested activation of MAPK pathways and renal injury.Upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines(IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α)and MAPK-related genes(P38 MAPK,ERK)alongside injury markers(NGAL,KIM-1)(P<0.05).Increased ratios of phosphorylated-to-total proteins(P-P38/P38,P-ERK/ERK)and elevated NGAL/KIM-1 protein levels confirmed pathway dysregulation.Treatment significantly reduced the renal coefficient(P<0.05),attenuated histological damage,and restored mitochondrial integrity.NGAL,Scr,and BUN levels were lowered,reflecting functional recovery.Diminished fluorescence intensities of P-P38,P-ERK,NGAL,and KIM-1 indicated suppression of injury pathways.Downregulation of inflammatory cytokines(IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α),MAPK components(P38 MAPK,ERK),and injury markers(NGAL,KIM-1)(P<0.05).Reduced phosphorylation ratios(P-P38/P38,P-ERK/ERK)and decreased NGAL/KIM-1 protein expression demonstrated therapeutic efficacy.Conclusion:Ononin ameliorates inflammatory responses in AKI mice via the P38 MAPK/ERK pathway.