Pre-treatment with 2-mercaptoethanol attenuates ferroptosis-associated redox imbalance and inflammatory responses, but not tubulointerstitial fibrosis, in unilateral ureteral obstruction
摘要
Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) induces oxidative stress, inflammation, ferroptosis, and progressive fibrotic remodeling. Whether pharmacological modulation of ferroptosis-related redox imbalance attenuates obstructive kidney injury remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of the thiol-containing antioxidant 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) in a mouse UUO model.
MethodsMice subjected to UUO received either pre-treatment or delayed treatment with 2-ME. Ferroptosis-related markers, including glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG), and lipid hydroperoxides, as well as inflammatory mediators, F4/80-positive macrophage infiltration, Havcr1 mRNA expression, and fibrotic parameters were evaluated using molecular and histological analyses.
ResultsUUO markedly decreased the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11, reduced the GSH/GSSG ratio, and elevated lipid hydroperoxide levels. These changes were accompanied by increased tubular injury scores, infiltration of F4/80-positive macrophages, and extracellular matrix accumulation. Pre-treatment with 2-ME increased GPX4 and SLC7A11 expression, improved the GSH/GSSG balance, reduced lipid hydroperoxide levels, and attenuated inflammatory activation. Additionally, 2-ME pre-treatment significantly reduced tubular injury scores and Havcr1 mRNA expression. However, 2-ME did not consistently suppress collagen deposition or the expression of fibrosis-related genes. Delayed administration of 2-ME failed to significantly alter antioxidant, inflammatory, or fibrotic markers.
ConclusionsPre-treatment with 2-ME attenuates ferroptosis-associated redox imbalance and inflammatory responses in UUO but does not consistently suppress tubulointerstitial fibrosis. These findings suggest that 2-ME can serve as a pharmacological tool to modulate thiol-dependent redox balance and inflammatory activation during UUO, whereas fibrosis progression likely involves additional mechanisms.
Clinical trial numberNot applicable.