Conclusion
Sakuranetin alleviates AILI by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis, and sakuranetin may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of AILI.
Methods
Mouse and HepG2 cell models of APAP injury were used to investigate the effect of sakuranetin on AILI and its mechanism. Serum transaminase levels, histological changes, inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress, ferroptosis-related markers and Nrf2 signaling pathway proteins were analyzed.
Results
Sakuranetin significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as inflammatory factor; increased HepG2 activity and decreased cell death; inhibited ROS production, increased glutathione (GSH) content, expression of Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11), and decreased malondialdehyde and Acyl-CoA Synthetase Long Chain Family Member 4 (ACSL4) expression in mice and HepG2 cells after APAP treatment. Further analysis showed that sakuranetin induced the activation of the NFE2 Like BZIP Transcription Factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway in liver tissue and HepG2 cells and promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. Moreover, the hepatoprotective effect of sakuranetin and its inhibitory effect on ferroptosis were significantly attenuated by the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385.