Nrf2‐Mediated Ferroptosis Is Involved in Berberine‐Induced Alleviation of Diabetic Kidney Disease

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Main Authors: Kun Gao, Yunhua Liu, Kun Li, Lin Liu, Yanmo Cai, Xinxue Zhang, Zongjiang Zhao
Format: Artículo Open Access
Published: Wiley 2025
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author Kun Gao
Yunhua Liu
Kun Li
Lin Liu
Yanmo Cai
Xinxue Zhang
Zongjiang Zhao
author_facet Kun Gao
Yunhua Liu
Kun Li
Lin Liu
Yanmo Cai
Xinxue Zhang
Zongjiang Zhao
Kun Gao
Yunhua Liu
Kun Li
Lin Liu
Yanmo Cai
Xinxue Zhang
Zongjiang Zhao
collection Wiley Open Access
contents Nrf2‐Mediated Ferroptosis Is Involved in Berberine‐Induced Alleviation of Diabetic Kidney Disease Kun Gao Yunhua Liu Kun Li Lin Liu Yanmo Cai Xinxue Zhang Zongjiang Zhao Phytotherapy Research ABSTRACT Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently, there is a lack of safe and effective preventive strategies for DKD. The study aimed to explore the preventive effects and potential mechanisms of berberine (BBR) against DKD. In the in vivo experiments, we established a DKD rat model induced by the combination of high‐fat diet and streptozotocin to investigate the preventive effect of BBR on DKD. Subsequently, in vitro experiments using human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK‐2 cells) were performed to further validate the effect of BBR on renal tubular epithelial cell ferroptosis induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In vivo, we found that BBR improved renal function and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration, podocyte injury, and iron deposition in renal tissue in DKD rats. In addition, in vitro experiments showed that BBR attenuated HK‐2 cell ferroptosis induced by AGEs. We further identified Nrf2 as a direct binding target of BBR by molecular docking and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Then, immunohistochemistry and Western Blot results demonstrated that BBR could activate the Nrf2 pathway, initiate the endogenous antioxidant system, and inhibit the occurrence of AGEs‐induced ferroptosis. Moreover, silencing of Nrf2 by siRNA technology eliminated the protective effect of BBR on AGEs‐induced ferroptosis. Collectively, our results supported that BBR could inhibit oxidative stress and ferroptosis by targeting activation of the Nrf2 pathway, thereby delaying the disease progression of DKD, providing a new scientific basis and perspective for the prevention and treatment of DKD. 10.1002/ptr.8498 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
doi_str_mv 10.1002/ptr.8498
format Artículo Open Access
id wiley_oa_10_1002_ptr_8498
institution Wiley Open Access
license_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
publishDate 2025
publisher Wiley
record_format wiley_oa
spellingShingle Nrf2‐Mediated Ferroptosis Is Involved in Berberine‐Induced Alleviation of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Kun Gao
Yunhua Liu
Kun Li
Lin Liu
Yanmo Cai
Xinxue Zhang
Zongjiang Zhao
Phytotherapy Research
Nrf2‐Mediated Ferroptosis Is Involved in Berberine‐Induced Alleviation of Diabetic Kidney Disease Kun Gao Yunhua Liu Kun Li Lin Liu Yanmo Cai Xinxue Zhang Zongjiang Zhao Phytotherapy Research ABSTRACT Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common and serious complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently, there is a lack of safe and effective preventive strategies for DKD. The study aimed to explore the preventive effects and potential mechanisms of berberine (BBR) against DKD. In the in vivo experiments, we established a DKD rat model induced by the combination of high‐fat diet and streptozotocin to investigate the preventive effect of BBR on DKD. Subsequently, in vitro experiments using human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK‐2 cells) were performed to further validate the effect of BBR on renal tubular epithelial cell ferroptosis induced by advanced glycation end products (AGEs). In vivo, we found that BBR improved renal function and attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration, podocyte injury, and iron deposition in renal tissue in DKD rats. In addition, in vitro experiments showed that BBR attenuated HK‐2 cell ferroptosis induced by AGEs. We further identified Nrf2 as a direct binding target of BBR by molecular docking and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). Then, immunohistochemistry and Western Blot results demonstrated that BBR could activate the Nrf2 pathway, initiate the endogenous antioxidant system, and inhibit the occurrence of AGEs‐induced ferroptosis. Moreover, silencing of Nrf2 by siRNA technology eliminated the protective effect of BBR on AGEs‐induced ferroptosis. Collectively, our results supported that BBR could inhibit oxidative stress and ferroptosis by targeting activation of the Nrf2 pathway, thereby delaying the disease progression of DKD, providing a new scientific basis and perspective for the prevention and treatment of DKD. 10.1002/ptr.8498 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
title Nrf2‐Mediated Ferroptosis Is Involved in Berberine‐Induced Alleviation of Diabetic Kidney Disease
topic Phytotherapy Research
url https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ptr.8498