Quercetin inhibited cadmium-induced autophagy in the mouse kidney via inhibition of oxidative stress.
The objective of the current study was to explore the inhibitory effects of quercetin on cadmium-induced autophagy in mouse kidneys. Mice were intraperitoneally injected with cadmium and quercetin once daily for 3 days. The LC3-II/β-actin ratio was used as the autophagy marker, and autophagy was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Oxidative stress was investigated in terms of reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde. Cadmium significantly induced typical autophagosome formation, increased the LC3-II/β-actin ratio, reactive oxygen species level, and malondialdehyde content, and decreased total antioxidant capacity. Interestingly, quercetin markedly decreased the cadmium-induced LC3-II/β-actin ratio, reactive oxygen species levels, and malondialdehyde content, and simultaneously increased total antioxidant capacity. Cadmium can inhibit total antioxidant capacity, produce a large amount of reactive oxygen species, lead to oxidative stress, and promote lipid peroxidation, eventually inducing autophagy in mouse kidneys. Quercetin could inhibit cadmium-induced autophagy via inhibition of oxidative stress. This study may provide a theoretical basis for the treatment of cadmium injury.
Department of Intensive Medicine, Gansu Provincial Hospital, 204 West Donggang Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Yuan
Y
Yuan
Department of General Surgery 1, Gansu Provincial Hospital, 204 West Donggang Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Shixun
S
Ma
Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Yongmei
Y
Qi
Gansu Key Laboratory of Biomonitoring and Bioremediation for Environmental Pollution, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 South Tianshui Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Xue
X
Wei
Medical Department, Gansu Provincial Hospital, 204 West Donggang Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Hui
H
Cai
Department of Centrol Laboratory, Gansu Provincial Hospital, 204 West Donggang Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Li
L
Dong
Department of Obstetrics, Gansu Provincial Hospital, 204 West Donggang Rd, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, 730000, China.
Yufeng
Y
Lu
Department of Oncological Surgery, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 South Shengli Rd, Yinchuan, Ningxia Province, 750000, China.
Yupeng
Y
Zhang
Department of Oncological Surgery, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 South Shengli Rd, Yinchuan, Ningxia Province, 750000, China.
Qingjin
Q
Guo
autophagy; cadmium; inhibition; mouse kidney; quercetin