Protective effects of 6-hydroxy-1-methylindole-3-acetonitrile on cisplatin-induced oxidative nephrotoxicity via Nrf2 inactivation

We previously demonstrated the ethanol extract of the roots of Brassica rapa protects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress. Here, we investigated the nephroprotective effects of 6-hydroxy-1-methylindole-3-acetonitrile (6-HMA), which was isolated from the roots of B. rapa, on cisplatin-induced toxicity in renal epithelial LLC-PK1 cells and in rats with acute renal injury. Pretreatment of LLC-PK1 cells with 6-HMA ameliorated cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity caused by oxidative stress, as was demonstrated by reductions in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased levels of glutathione (GSH). In addition, 6-HMA inhibited cisplatin-induced heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, possibly due to the suppression of the nuclear translocation and binding activity of NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Furthermore, 6-HMA administered rats showed lower levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and urinary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) than cisplatin alone-treated rats in cisplatin-induced renal injury model. Moreover, 6-HMA inhibited the cisplatin-induced formation of MDA and GSH depletion and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR). Taken together, these findings indicate 6-HMA is a major active constituent from the roots of B. rapa to have a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by attenuating oxidative stress.