The ameliorative effect of kaempferol against CdCl2- mediated renal damage entails activation of Nrf2 and inhibition of NF-kB.

This study evaluated the nephroprotective effect of kaempferol against cadmium chloride (CdCl2) -induced nephropathy in rats. It also investigated if activation of Nrf2 is a common mechanism of action. Adult male rats ((150 ± 15 g) were divided into 4 groups (n = 8/each) as a control (1% DMSO, orally), control + kaempferol (200 mg/kg, orally), CdCl2 (50 mg/l in drinking water), and CdCl2 + kaempferol (200 mg/kg)-treated rats. All treatments were conducted for 8 weeks. Kaempferol significantly attenuated CdCl2-induced weight loss, reduction in kidney weights, and the injury in the glomeruli, proximal tubules, and distal tubules in the treated rats. It also significantly lowered serum levels of urea and creatinine, increased urine output and urinary creatinine levels and clearance but reduced urinary levels of albumin urinary albumin exertion (UAER), and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) in these rats. In parallel, kaempferol downregulated renal levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax and unregulated those of Bcl2. In the kidney tissues of the control animals and CdCl2 rats, kaempferol significantly attenuated oxidative stress, inflammation and significantly boosted levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and glutathione. Also, and in both groups, kaempferol suppressed the nuclear levels of NF-κB p65, downregulated Keap1, and stimulated the nuclear activation and protein levels of Nrf2. In conclusion, kaempferol is a potential therapeutic drug to prevent CdCl2-induced nephropathy due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects mediated by suppressing NF- NF-κB p65 and transactivating Nrf2.

Salidroside inhibits insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis by downregulating miR-21 and subsequent activation of AMPK and upregulation of PPARα in the liver and muscles of high fat diet-fed rats.

This study evaluated if salidroside (SAL) alleviates high-fat diet (HFD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by downregulating miR-21. Rats (n = 8/group) were treated for 12 weeks as normal diet (control/ND), ND + agmoir negative control (NC) (150 µg/kg), ND + SAL (300 mg/kg), HFD, HFD + SAL, HFD + compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) (200 ng/kg), HFD + SAL + NXT629 (a PPAR-α antagonist) (30 mg/kg), and HFD + SAL + miR-21 agomir (150 µg/kg). SAL improved glucose and insulin tolerance and preserved livers in HFD-fed rats. In ND and HFD-fed rats, SAL reduced levels of serum and hepatic lipids and the hepatic expression of SREBP1, SREBP2, fatty acid (FA) synthase, and HMGCOAR. It also activated hepatic Nrf2 and increased hepatic/muscular activity of AMPK and levels of PPARα. All effects afforded by SAL were prevented by CC, NXT629, and miR-21 agmoir. In conclusion, activation of AMPK and upregulation of PPARα mediate the anti-steatotic effect of SAL.

Kaempferol prevents cadmium chloride-induced liver damage by upregulating Nrf2 and suppressing NF-κB and keap1.

This study evaluated the protective effect of kaempferol, a natural flavonoid, against cadmium chloride (CdCl2)-induced liver damage and examined the possible anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms of protection. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups (each of 8 rats) as control, kaempferol (50 mg/kg/day orally), CdCl2 (15 ppm/day), and CdCl2 (15 ppm/day) + kaempferol (50 mg/kg/day). All treatments were given for 30 days. With no effect on attenuating the reduced food intake, kaempferol significantly increased body weight and lowered serum levels of liver injury markers including bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyltransferase 1 (γ-GTT1) in the CdCl2-treated rats. It also restored normal liver architectures, prevented hepatocyte, loss, and swelling and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. These effects were associated with a reduction in mitochondrial permeability transition pore, as well as in the expression of cytochrome-c and cleaved caspase-3, markers of mitochondrial damage, and intrinsic cell death. In both the control positive and CdCl2-treated rats, kaempferol significantly lowered the hepatic levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukine-6 (IL-6), and the nuclear activity and localization of NF-κB p65. Besides, kaempferol significantly increased the hepatic total and nuclear levels of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1, as well as levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) but reduced the cytoplasmic protein levels of keap1. In conclusion, the protective effect of kaempferol against CdCl2-induced hepatic damage is mediated by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects driven by upregulating Nrf2/HO-1 axis and suppressing the NF-κB p65 and keap1.

Cadmium chloride induces non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats by stimulating miR-34a/SIRT1/FXR/p53 axis.

Cadmium (Cd) is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The hepatic activation of p53/miR-43a-induced suppression of SIRT1/FXR axis plays a significant role in the development of NAFLD. In this study, we have investigated CdCl2-induced NAFLD in rats involves activation of miR34a/SIRT1/FXR axis. Adult male rats were divided into 4 groups (n-8/each) as a control, CdCl2 (10 mg/l), CdCl2 + miR-34a antagomir (inhibitor), and CdCl2 + SRT1720 (a SIRT1 activator) for 8 weeks, daily. With no effect on fasting glucose and insulin levels, CdCl2 significantly reduced rats' final body, fat pads, and liver weights, and food intake. Concomitantly, it increased the circulatory levels of liver markers (ALT, AST, and γ-GTT), increased the serum and hepatic levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides coincided with increased hepatic lipid accumulation. Besides, it increased the mRNA and protein levels of SREBP1, SREBP2, FAS, and HMGCOA reductase but reduced mRNA levels of PPARα, CPT1, and CPT2. Interestingly, CdCl2 also increased mRNA levels of miR34 without altering mRNA levels of SIRT1 but with a significant reduction in protein levels of SIRT1. These effects were associated with increased total protein levels of p53 and acetylated protein of p53, and FXR. Of note, suppressing miR-34a with a specific anatomic or activating SIRT1 by SRT1720 completely prevented all these effects and reduced hepatic fat accumulations in the livers of rats. In conclusion, CdCl2 induced NAFLD by increasing the transcription of miR-34a which in turn downregulates SIRT1 at the translational level.

Salidroside induces cell apoptosis and inhibits the invasiveness of HT29 colorectal cells by regulating protein kinase R, NF-κB and STAT3.

BACKGROUND: Protein kinase R (PKR) can suppress various types of solid tumors by inducing cellular oxidative stress and apoptosis. Likewise, Slaidorside, a plant flavonoid, was shown to have anti-tumorigenesis in many solid tumors. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated anti-tumorigenesis of Salidroside in HT29 colorectal cancer and investigated if the underlying mechanism involves activation of PKR. METHODS: Control or PKR deficient cells were cultured in DMEM media treated with 100 µM Salidroside and cell survival, apoptosis, and other biochemical-related markers were evaluated. RESULTS: Salidroside significantly reduced cell survival and proliferation and increased the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and levels of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). It also increased the protein levels of caspases 3 and 8. Concomitantly, Salidroside increased the protein level and activity of PKR and increased the expression of its downstream targets, p-eIF2α (Ser51), p53 MAPK, and p53. On the contrary, it inhibited the nuclear activation of STAT-3 and NF-κB p65. In PKR deficient cells, the partial effects of Salidroside on cell survival, proliferation, and apoptotic markers were observed coincided with no effects on the expression of eIF-2α, and JNK, p53, p38 MAPK, and caspase 8 but with a significant decrease in the nuclear activities of STAT3 and NF-κB. CONCLUSION: Salidroside suppresses the tumorigenesis of HT29 CRC by increasing activation of eIF-2α and JNK and upregulation of p53, p38 MAPK, and caspase-8 through upregulating and activation of PKR. However, the tumor suppressor effect of Salidroside requires also inhibition of STAT3 and NF-κB in a PKR-independent mechanism.

Cadmium Chloride Induces Memory Deficits and Hippocampal Damage by Activating the JNK/p66Shc/NADPH Oxidase Axis.

This study investigated whether the mechanism underlying the neurotoxic effects of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) in rats involves p66Shc. This study comprised an initial in vivo experiment followed by an in vitro experiment. For the in vivo experiment, male rats were orally administered saline (vehicle) or CdCl2 (0.05 mg/kg) for 30 days. Thereafter, spatial and retention memory of rats were tested and their hippocampi were used for biochemical and molecular analyses. For the in vitro experiment, control or p66Shc-deficient hippocampal cells were treated with CdCl2 (25 µM) in the presence or absence of SP600125, a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. Cadmium chloride impaired the spatial learning and retention memory of rats; depleted levels of glutathione and manganese superoxide dismutase; increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), tumor necrosis factor α, and interleukin 6; and induced nuclear factor kappa B activation. Cadmium chloride also decreased the number of pyramidal cells in the CA1 region and induced severe damage to the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum of cells in the hippocampi of rats. Moreover, CdCl2 increased the total unphosphorylated p66Shc, phosphorylated (Ser36) p66Shc, phosphorylated JNK, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, cytochrome c, and cleaved caspase-3. A dose-response increase in cell death, ROS, DNA damage, p66Shc, and NADPH oxidase was also observed in cultured hippocampal cells treated with CdCl2. Of note, all of these biochemical changes were attenuated by silencing p66Shc or inhibiting JNK with SP600125. In conclusion, CdCl2 induces hippocampal ROS generation and apoptosis by promoting the JNK-mediated activation of p66Shc.

Kaempferol protects against cadmium chloride-induced hippocampal damage and memory deficits by activation of silent information regulator 1 and inhibition of poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase-1.

The neuroprotective effect of Kaempferol against cadmium chloride (CdCl2) -induced neurotoxicity is well reported. The silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) are two related cellular molecules that can negatively affect the activity of each other to promote or inhibit cell survival, respectively. It is still largely unknown if the neurotoxicity of CdCl2 or the neuroprotection of Kaempferol are mediated by modulating SIRT1 and/or PAPR1 activities. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that CdCl2-induced memory deficit and hippocampal damage are associated with downregulation/inhibition of SIRT1 and activation of PAPR1, an effect that can be reversed by co-treatment with Kaempferol. Rats (n = 12/group) were divided into 4 groups as control, control + Kaempferol (50 mg//kg), CdCl2 (0.5 mg/kg), and CdCl2 + Kaempferol. All treatments were administered orally for 30 days daily. As compared to control rats, CdCl2 reduced rat's final body weights (21.8%) and their food intake (30%), induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in their hippocampi, and impaired their short and long-term recognition memory functions. Besides, the hippocampi of CdCl2-treated rats had higher levels of TNF-α (197%), and IL-6 (190%) with a concomitant increase in nuclear activity and levels of NF-κB p65 (721% & 554%). Besides, they showed reduced nuclear activity (53%) and levels (74%) of SIRT1, higher nuclear activity and levels of PARP1 (292% & 138%), increased nuclear levels of p53 (870%), and higher acetylated levels of NF-κB p65 (513%), p53 (644%), PARP1 (696%), and FOXO-2 (149%). All these events were significantly reversed in the CdCl2 + Kaempferol-treated rats. Of note, Kaempferol also increased levels of MnSOD (73.5%), and GSH (40%), protein levels of Bcl-2 (350%), and nuclear activity (67%) and levels (46%) of SIRT1 in the hippocampi of the control rats. In conclusion, Kaempferol ameliorates CdCl2-induced memory deficits and hippocampal oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis by increasing SIRT1 activity and inhibiting PARP1 activity.