Intraperitoneal administration of Allium macrostemon-derived carbon quantum dots alleviates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury and restores mitochondrial function in mice

doi:10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.03.04

Abstract

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the protective effects of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) derived from Allium macrostemon (Xiebai) administered orally or via intraperitoneal injection in a mouse model of cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and explore the underlying mechanisms. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control group, AKI model group, intraperitoneal injection group, and oral administration group (n=6). In all but the control group, the mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of cisplatin (20 mg/kg) on day 3 to induce AKI; intraperitoneal injections of Xiebai-derived CQDs (0.25 mL/day) were administered on a daily basis for 5 consecutive days, and oral CQD solution was given at the dose of 1 mL/day. On day 6, blood samples were collected to measure serum creatinine (CRE) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). HE staining and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to evaluate kidney tissue structure, mitochondrial morphology, and podocyte injury. Expression levels of renal injury markers (KIM-1 and NGAL) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF‑α, and IL-1β) were determined with with RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results Compared with those in the control group, AKI mice exhibited significant weight loss, renal enlargement, increased kidney-to-body weight ratio, and elevated serum CRE and BUN levels. In both Xiebai CQDs treatment groups, kidney/body weight ratios and serum CRE and BUN levels were reduced and the expression levels of KIM-1, NGAL, and inflammatory cytokines were lowered significantly. Histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed more intact renal architecture, reduced inflammatory infiltration, restored mitochondrial morphology, and alleviated podocyte foot process fusion and basement membrane thickening in the two treatment groups, particularly in the intraperitoneal injection group. Conclusion Intraperitoneal administration of Xiebai-derived CQDs effectively attenuates cisplatin-induced AKI in mice, improves renal function, suppresses inflammatory responses, and repairs mitochondrial damage, thus offering better renal targeting and protective effects for AKI prevention and treatment.

Key words: acute kidney injury, Xiebai, carbon quantum dots, cisplatin, mitochondria

Jianming YANG, Long YANG, Kaiwen HONG, Beibei GENG, Man ZHAO, Yaoguang WANG, Ting XIA, Jinrui DONG. Intraperitoneal administration of Allium macrostemon-derived carbon quantum dots alleviates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury and restores mitochondrial function in mice[J]. Journal of Southern Medical University, 2026, 46(3): 505-512.

Figures/Tables 9

Fig.1 Establishment of mouse models of acute kidney injury (AKI) and experimental grouping.

Tab.1 Sequences of RT-PCR primers

Gene	Primer sequence (5'-3')
TNF-α	F: ATGAGAAGTTCCCAAATGGC R: CTCCACTTGGTGGTTTGCTA
IL-1β	F: ATCCAGCACTCTGCTTTCAGG R: TGCATCTGTAGGAGTCCCTGT
IL-6	F: CTCTGGGAAATCGTGGAAAT R: CCAGTTTGGTAGCATCCATC
MCP1	F: AGGTCCCTGTCATGCTTCTG R: TCTGGACCCATTCCTTCTTG
KIM-1	F: ACGGCTCTCTCCTAACTGGT R: CCACCACCCCCTTTACTTCC
NGAL	F: TTGTAGTGGGCGTGGAATCG R: CGGAACCTCCACAGTCAGTC
Spp1	F: AGAAGCATCCTTGCTTGGGTTT R: CGTAGTTAGTCCTTGGCTGGTT
Timp1	F: GCTCCAACCCTGTCCTAACC R: GCACAACACGAAAATGCCCT
GAPDH	F: CCCCATACACAGTGTTAGCC R: GAGTGATTTTCCCGTCC

Fig.2 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on general condition and body weight changes in AKI mice. A: Fur luster, activity level, and food intake of the mice. B: Body weight of mice in the CON, AKI, AKI+CI, and AKI+CO groups at 1, 2, and 3 days after AKI modeling. ***P<0.001 vs CON group, ###P<0.001 vs AKI group (n=6).

Fig.3 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on kidney condition and kidney/body weight ratio in AKI mice. A: Mice kidney anatomy. B: Mice kidney/body weight ratio. ***P<0.001 vs CON group, ##P<0.01 vs AKI group.

Fig.4 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on serum CRE (A) and BUN levels (B) in AKI mice. ***P<0.001 vs CON group, ##P<0.01, ###P<0.001 vs AKI group.

Fig.5 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on renal pathology in AKI mice (HE staining; upper panel: ×100, scale bar=200 µm; lower panel: ×200, scale bar=100 µm).

Fig.6 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on mRNA levels of renal injury markers (A) and inflammatory markers (B) in AKI mice. ***P<0.001 vs CON group, #P<0.05, ###P<0.001 vs AKI group.

Fig.7 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on renal protein expression in AKI mice. A: Western blots and quantitative analysis showing renal levels of NGAL and GAPDH. B: Western blots and quantitative analysis showing renal levels of p-JNK and JNK. C: Western blots and quantitative analysis showing renal levels of p-NF-κB and NF-κB. ***P<0.001 vs CON group, ###P<0.001 vs AKI group (n=6).

Fig.8 Effects of Xiebai CQDs on renal injury in AKI mice. A: TEM images showing renal cortical mitochondria of the mice in AKI and AKI+CI groups. B: TEM images showing renal basement membrane of the mice in AKI and AKI+CI groups. Yellow arrows indicate damaged mitochondria, and red arrows indicate disrupted basement membrane.

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