Yi-Shen-Xie-Zhuo formula alleviates cisplatin-induced AKI by regulating inflammation and apoptosis via the cGAS/STING pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Yi-Shen-Xie-Zhuo formula (YSXZF) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription developed from the classic prescription Mulizexie powder documented in the book of Golden Chamber Synopsis and the Buyanghuanwu Decoction recorded in the book of Correction of Errors in Medical Classics. According to our years of clinical experience, YSXZF can effectively improve qi deficiency and blood stasis in kidney disease. However, its mechanisms need further clarification.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Apoptosis and inflammation play key roles in acute kidney disease (AKI). The Yi-Shen-Xie-Zhuo formula, consisting of four herbs, is commonly used for treating renal disease. However, the underlying mechanism and bioactive components remain unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of YSXZF against apoptosis and inflammation in a cisplatin-treated mouse model, and identify the main bioactive components of YSXZF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were administered cisplatin (15 mg/kg) with or without YSXZF (11.375 or 22.75 g/kg/d). HKC-8 cells were treated with cisplatin (20 μM) with or without YSXZF (5% or 10%) for 24 h. Renal function, morphology, and cell damage were evaluated. UHPLC-MS was used to analyze the herbal components and metabolites in the YSXZF-containing serum.

RESULTS: Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, serum and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were clearly increased in the cisplatin-treated group. Administration of YSXZF reversed these changes; it improved renal histology, downregulated kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) expression, and lowered the number of TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells. YSXZF significantly downregulated cleaved caspase-3 and BAX, and upregulated BCL-2 proteins in renal tissues. YSXZF suppressed increase in cGAS/STING activation and inflammation. In vitro treatment with YSXZF markedly reduced cisplatin-induced HKC-8 cell apoptosis, relieved cGAS/STING activation and inflammation, improved mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and lowered reactive oxygen species (ROS) overgeneration. Small RNA interference (siRNA)-mediated silencing of cGAS or STING inhibited the protective effects of YSXZF. Twenty-three bioactive constituents from the YSXZF-containing serum were identified as key components.

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to demonstrate that YSXZF protects against AKI by suppressing inflammation and apoptosis via the cGAS/STING signaling pathway.