Renoprotective mechanisms of morin in cisplatin-induced kidney injury

• Morin decreased the cisplatin-induced serum creatinine and BUN levels.
• Morin inhibited the cisplatin-induced TNF-α and IL-1β production.
• Morin inhibited the activation of CYP2E1, p65, P38, Bax, p53 and cleaved caspase 3.
• Morin attenuated cisplatin-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

In this study, we investigated the renoprotective effects of morin on cisplatin-induced kidney injury in mice. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were determined according to the corresponding kits. The mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in kidney tissues were measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The activities of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65, P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Bax, p53 and cleaved caspase 3 were evaluated by western blotting. The results showed that the model of cisplatin-induced kidney injury was successfully replicated, and morin significantly attenuated histopathological changes and decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in the kidneys. In addition, morin attenuated the activation of CYP2E1, phospho-NF-κB p65, phospho-P38 MAPK, Bax, phospho-p53 and cleaved caspase 3 in CP-induced kidney injury. In conclusion, these results indicated that the renoprotective mechanisms of morin may be attributed to the suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in CP-induced kidney injury.