The biomechanistic aspects of renal cortical injury induced by diesel exhaust particles in rats and the renoprotective contribution of quercetin pretreatment: Histological and biochemical study

Abstract

Although several studies have reported a toxic effect of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) exposure on the kidney tissues, the involvement of autophagy/NF-kB signaling as encountered mechanisms and the protective effects of a natural flavonoid, quercetin on DEP remains unclear. Thirty-two albino rats were divided as control, quercetintreated (60 mg/kg, oral), DEP-exposed (0.5 mg/kg, intra-tracheal), and quercetin/DEPexposed groups. Specimens of the renal cortex were subjected to histo-biochemical study and immunohistochemical analysis using anti-NF-kB, and anti-LC3β antibodies followed by morphometric and statistical analyses. The expression level of autophagy genes was quantitatively evaluated using RT-PCR, as well. The DEP-exposed rats showed an elevation in the renal tissue levels of MDA and a decrease in the catalase and superoxide dismutase (p < .05). Histologically, there were cytoplasmic vacuolar changes in the lining cells of the renal tubules, glomerular atrophy, and vascular congestion. In addition, renal inflammation was evident as confirmed by the increased NF-kB immunoexpression. Moreover, the gene expression of Becn1, ATG5, and LC3β increased (p <. 0) due to DEP exposure. Conversely, quercetin pretreatment improved these renal histo-biochemical alterations (p < .05) and regulated autophagy/NF-kB pathways. Overall, the study proved the renal toxicity mediated by DEP exposure via precipitating renal inflammation, autophagy activation, and oxidative stress. Quercetin pretreatment could antagonize such machinery to protect the kidney against DEP.

Protective effect of quercetin on kidney diseases: From chemistry to herbal medicines

“…Specifically, with the development of industrial technology and the progress of science and technology, the damage of chemical raw materials to the kidney has grown immensely prominent. Data from animal models have shown that the protective effect of quercetin is closely related to the clearance of free radicals and reduction of lipid peroxidation in both industrial chemical raw materials and heavy metal and diesel particulate pollution (Li et al, 2016b;Qi et al, 2017;Uthra et al, 2017;Alshanwani et al, 2020;Morsi et al, 2022). Moreover, Quercetin was also found to reduce organophosphorus pesticide mixture-induced nephrotoxicity by regulating fatty acid, energy and sex hormone metabolism, protecting antioxidant defense systems and reducing DNA damage (Qi et al, 2017).…”

Preclinical evidence of reno-protective effect of quercetin on acute kidney injury: a meta-analysis of animal studies

“…Dates from animal models of AKI have shown that quercetin increases antioxidant (GSH, vitamin C, vitamin E, etc.) levels (Kahraman et al, 2003;Renugadevi and Prabu, 2010;Kinaci et al, 2012;Nabavi et al, 2012;Sanchez-Gonzalez et al, 2017), strengthens the enzymes activity of GSH, CAT, SOD (Inal et al, 2002;Kahraman et al, 2003;Singh et al, 2004;Renugadevi and Prabu, 2010;Yao et al, 2011;Nabavi et al, 2012;Erboga et al, 2015; Frontiers in Pharmacology frontiersin.org Elbe et al, 2016;Sanchez-Gonzalez et al, 2017;Yuksel et al, 2017;Gholampour and Sadidi, 2018), decreases the concentration of oxidants (e.g., MDA) (Kinaci et al, 2012;Erboga et al, 2015;Elbe et al, 2016;Yuksel et al, 2017;Gholampour and Sadidi, 2018), and reduces renal lipid peroxidation (Singh et al, 2004;Renugadevi and Prabu, 2010;Chaudhary et al, 2015;Gholampour and Sadidi, 2018;Morsi et al, 2022).…”

Particulate Matter Elevates Ocular Inflammation and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Human Retinal Pigmented Epithelium Cells

“…Therefore, the distribution and toxicity of PM mainly depend on particle size [ 8 ]. Exposure to PM has been reported to adversely affect the respiratory [ 9 ], cardiovascular [ 10 ], renal [ 11 , 12 ], hepatic [ 13 ], dermal [ 14 ], and nervous systems [ 15 ].…”

“…Short-term (24 h exposure to PM significantly narrowed retinal vessels, as well as both arterioles and venules in healthy adults [ 30 ]. Toxicological studies suggest that acute respiratory PM exposure causes retinal edema, which may be mediated by hypoxic responses [ 12 ]. In another rodent-based study, PM exposure in the eye triggered retinal vascular permeability, with retinal edema and inflammation [ 31 ].…”