Quercetin Alleviates Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting the STING-NF-κB Inflammatory Pathway.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a significant clinical concern, leading to renal tubular epithelial cell damage and inflammation.
• Quercetin (QU), a natural flavonoid, is recognized for its anti-inflammatory properties but its efficacy in renal I/R injury is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic effect of quercetin (QU) on renal I/R injury.
• To investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of QU in renal I/R injury, focusing on the STING/NF-κB pathway.

Main Methods:

• In vivo studies utilized a mouse model of renal I/R injury.
• In vitro experiments were conducted using Normal Rat Kidney-52E (NRK-52E) cells treated with H2O2 to induce inflammation.
• STING knockout mice were employed to validate the anti-inflammatory mechanism.

Main Results:

• Quercetin (QU) demonstrated a protective effect, alleviating renal injury and inflammation in the I/R model.
• In vitro, QU suppressed H2O2-induced inflammatory responses in NRK-52E cells.
• Mechanistic studies revealed that QU inhibits the STING/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing inflammation.

Conclusions:

• Quercetin (QU) mitigates renal I/R injury by suppressing inflammation through the STING-NF-κB axis.
• These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of quercetin as a treatment for renal I/R injury.