Role of Autophagy on Heavy Metal-Induced Renal Damage and the Protective Effects of Curcumin in Autophagy and Kidney Preservation.

Sabino Hazael Avila-Rojas,Laura María Reyes-Fermín,Alejandra Lira-León,Omar Emiliano Aparicio-Trejo,José Pedraza-Chaverri

doi:10.3390/medicina55070360

Sabino Hazael Avila-Rojas, Laura María Reyes-Fermín + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina55070360

Copy DOI

Abstract

Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol compound extracted from the rhizome of turmeric. The protective effect of curcumin on kidney damage in multiple experimental models has been widely described. Its protective effect is mainly associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as with mitochondrial function maintenance. On the other hand, occupational or environmental exposure to heavy metals is a serious public health problem. For a long time, heavy metals-induced nephrotoxicity was mainly associated with reactive oxygen species overproduction and loss of endogenous antioxidant activity. However, recent studies have shown that in addition to oxidative stress, heavy metals also suppress the autophagy flux, enhancing cell damage. Thus, natural compounds with the ability to modulate and restore autophagy flux represent a promising new therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, it has been reported in other renal damage models that curcumin’s nephroprotective effects are related to its ability to regulate autophagic flow. The data indicate that curcumin modulates autophagy by classic signaling pathways (suppression of protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and/or by stimulation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and extracellular signal-dependent kinase (ERK) pathways). Moreover, it allows lysosomal function preservation, which is crucial for the later stage of autophagy. However, future studies of autophagy modulation by curcumin in heavy metals-induced autophagy flux impairment are still needed.

Highlights

Curcumin or diferuloylmethane (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-16-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., known as turmeric [1], which is widely grown in the southern and south western tropical regions of Asia [2]
In this review we summarized the mechanisms involved in autophagy regulation by curcumin, as well heavy metals-induced autophagy flux impairment in the kidney
This is consistent with the study of Shi et al (2019), which revealed that prolonged exposure to CdCl2 increased apoptosis in chicken kidneys by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent autophagy [50]

Summary

Introduction

Curcumin or diferuloylmethane (1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-16-heptadiene-3,5-dione) is a hydrophobic polyphenol extracted from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., known as turmeric [1], which is widely grown in the southern and south western tropical regions of Asia [2]. The protective effect of curcumin has been described in kidney damage models induced by ischemia/reperfusion [8], cisplatin [35], 5/6 nephrectomy [16], and heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Cr) [12,14,15], where its antioxidant activity is highlighted. It preserves mitochondrial function [16,29,35], which contributes to renal function preservation in kidney function. The protective effect of curcumin was mediated by HO-1 [39]

Autophagy and Its Evaluation

The Autophagy in Heavy Metals Kidney Damage

Protective Effects of Curcumin Related to Autophagy Regulation

Conclusions