Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis

Background Doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is limited in clinical application due to its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to explore alternative therapeutic molecules or drugs for mitigating DOX-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). In this study aimed to expl...

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Main Authors: Lin Zhang, Xiaorui Liu, Juan Wang, Zimu Li, Siqi Wang, Wen Yang, Yang Hai, Dongling Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Redox Report
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13510002.2025.2503130
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author Lin Zhang
Xiaorui Liu
Juan Wang
Zimu Li
Siqi Wang
Wen Yang
Yang Hai
Dongling Liu
author_facet Lin Zhang
Xiaorui Liu
Juan Wang
Zimu Li
Siqi Wang
Wen Yang
Yang Hai
Dongling Liu
author_sort Lin Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Background Doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is limited in clinical application due to its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to explore alternative therapeutic molecules or drugs for mitigating DOX-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). In this study aimed to explore underlying mechanisms of the cardioprotective effects of Kaempferol (KP) against DIC.Methods H9c2 cell-based DIC model were established to explore the pharmacological mechanism. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ROS, mitochondrial Fe2+ and lipid peroxidation were detected using JC-1, TMRE, Mito-SOX, Mito-Ferro Green and C11-BODIPY 581/591 probes. Furthermore, Western blot analysis measured the expression of key regulatory proteins, and NRF2-targeting siRNA was transfected into H9c2 cells. The nuclear translocation of NRF2 was assessed by immunofluorescence.Results Data revealed that KP mitigated DOX-induced mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis via reducing membrane potential, mitochondrial ROS/Fe²+, and regulating lipid metabolism. Mechanistically, Western blot analysis revealed that KP inhibited DOX-induced ferroptosis by activating NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. Moreover, KP promoted the accumulation and nuclear translocation of NRF2 protein.Conclusion These findings demonstrated that KP protected against DOX-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis. This provides novel insights into KP as a promising drug candidate for cardioprotection.
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spelling doaj-art-e422cc2a6a6949c6bc620c1d4f785cd32025-08-20T02:58:29ZengTaylor & Francis GroupRedox Report1351-00021743-29282025-12-0130110.1080/13510002.2025.2503130Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosisLin Zhang0Xiaorui Liu1Juan Wang2Zimu Li3Siqi Wang4Wen Yang5Yang Hai6Dongling Liu7School of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaSchool of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground Doxorubicin (DOX), a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, is limited in clinical application due to its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to explore alternative therapeutic molecules or drugs for mitigating DOX-induced cardiomyopathy (DIC). In this study aimed to explore underlying mechanisms of the cardioprotective effects of Kaempferol (KP) against DIC.Methods H9c2 cell-based DIC model were established to explore the pharmacological mechanism. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial ROS, mitochondrial Fe2+ and lipid peroxidation were detected using JC-1, TMRE, Mito-SOX, Mito-Ferro Green and C11-BODIPY 581/591 probes. Furthermore, Western blot analysis measured the expression of key regulatory proteins, and NRF2-targeting siRNA was transfected into H9c2 cells. The nuclear translocation of NRF2 was assessed by immunofluorescence.Results Data revealed that KP mitigated DOX-induced mitochondrial damage and ferroptosis via reducing membrane potential, mitochondrial ROS/Fe²+, and regulating lipid metabolism. Mechanistically, Western blot analysis revealed that KP inhibited DOX-induced ferroptosis by activating NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 axis. Moreover, KP promoted the accumulation and nuclear translocation of NRF2 protein.Conclusion These findings demonstrated that KP protected against DOX-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis. This provides novel insights into KP as a promising drug candidate for cardioprotection.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13510002.2025.2503130KPDOXcardiotoxicitycardiomyocytesmitochondrial ROSferroptosis
spellingShingle Lin Zhang
Xiaorui Liu
Juan Wang
Zimu Li
Siqi Wang
Wen Yang
Yang Hai
Dongling Liu
Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis
Redox Report
KP
DOX
cardiotoxicity
cardiomyocytes
mitochondrial ROS
ferroptosis
title Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis
title_full Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis
title_fullStr Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis
title_full_unstemmed Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis
title_short Kaempferol protects against doxorubicin-induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ROS-dependent ferroptosis
title_sort kaempferol protects against doxorubicin induced myocardial damage by inhibiting mitochondrial ros dependent ferroptosis
topic KP
DOX
cardiotoxicity
cardiomyocytes
mitochondrial ROS
ferroptosis
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/13510002.2025.2503130
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