Protective potential of Pinobanksin against perflurooctane sulfonate induced nephrotoxicity via modulating Nrf-2/Keap-1, inflammation and apoptosis

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent environmental pollutant owing to its adverse effects on different body organs including kidneys. Pinobanksin (PBN) is a naturally occurring flavonoid which exhibits a wide range of pharmacological potentials. Twenty-four rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i>) were apportioned into four groups i.e. the control, PFOS (10 mg/kg), PFOS (10 mg/kg) + PBN (20 mg/kg) and PBN (20 mg/kg) alone treated group. PFOS exposure upregulated the expression of Keap-1 while downregulating the expression of Nrf-2. Furthermore, PFOS intoxication reduced the activities of glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) along with contents of glutathion (GSH) while escalating the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, PFOS administration promoted the levels of urea, Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (Kim-1), creatinine, and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) while reducing the level of creatinine clearance. Furthermore, PFOS intoxication provoked the levels of inflammatory cytokines including nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) as well as tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF-α). Additionally, PFOS intoxication downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 while escalating the expression of Bax and Caspase-3. PFOS administration dysregulated the normal architecture of renal tissues. PBN treatment remarkably protected the renal tissues via regulating aforementioned disruptions owing to its antioxidative, anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory potential.