Effect of Thymoquinone on Acute Kidney Injury Induced by Sepsis in BALB/c Mice

Abstract

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.

Thymoquinone: A Tie-Breaker in SARS-CoV2-Infected Cancer Patients?

“…Furthermore, upon SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell, the disruption of the intracellular environment via ion redistribution results in the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome that increases the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6 and TNF, further contributing to the imminent cytokine storm and tissue inflammation during respiratory illness [ 266 ]. In this context, TQ could have a promising anti-inflammatory role, where it significantly decreases the mRNA expression of the aforementioned proinflammatory cytokines, IL-18, IL-1β and TNF-α, and inhibits IL-6-signaling [ 16 , 17 , 267 , 268 , 269 ]. In cancer patients, inflammasomes are also overexpressed, leading to an increased inflammatory status [ 270 , 271 ].…”

“…Moreover, TQ shows reno-protective effects in sepsis-induced AKI. Since AKI is majorly mediated by dysregulated activation of inflammasomes and proinflammatory cytokines, the aforementioned anti-inflammatory properties of TQ also appear to be of significant benefit in this context [ 17 ], where TQ decreases apoptosis of kidney cells and alleviates AKI. Finally, NFκB is the main transcription regulator of inflammatory genes and has crucial roles in inflammation and the pathophysiology of sepsis.…”

“…TQ reverses the increased NFκB expression in the kidney from septic mice. Collectively, TQ contributes to the alleviation of sepsis-induced AKI by regulating pyroptosis, proinflammatory cytokines, and apoptosis-related expression [ 17 ].…”

“…TQ shows all the above-mentioned effects [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. TQ is the most pharmacologically active ingredient in Nigella sativa seeds (black seeds) extract [ 27 , 28 ].…”

Erratum to “Effect of Thymoquinone on Acute Kidney Injury Induced by Sepsis in BALB/c Mice”

“…In the article titled “Effect of Thymoquinone on Acute Kidney Injury Induced by Sepsis in BALB/c Mice” [ 1 ], Figure 1 contains an error where the image of the control group was duplicated in the image for the TQ+CLP group. This duplication was introduced during the production of the article, and the publisher apologises for this error.…”