Chlorogenic Acid Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB Signal Pathway

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenolic compound, exists widely in medicinal herbs, which has been shown a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. This study investigated the protective effects and mechanism of CGA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Treatment of CGA successfully ameliorates LPS-induced renal function and pathological damage. Moreover, CGA dose-dependently suppressed LPS-induced blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine levels, and inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta in serum and tissue. The relative proteins' expression of TLR4/NF-kappa B signal pathway was assessed by western blot analysis. Our results showed that CGA dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced kidney histopathologic changes, serum BUN, and creatinine levels. CGA also suppressed LPS-induced TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta production both in serum and kidney tissues. Furthermore, our results showed that CGA significantly inhibited the LPS-induced expression of phosphorylated NF-kappa B p65 and I kappa B as well as the expression of TLR4 signal. In conclusion, our results provide a mechanistic explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of CGA in LPS-induced AKI mice through inhibiting TLR4/NF-kappa B signaling pathway.