Kaempferol might improve bleomycin-induced fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and oxidative cellular damage. - GreenMedInfo Summary
Inhibitory effect of kaempferol on skin fibrosis in systemic sclerosis by the suppression of oxidative stress.
J Dermatol Sci. 2019 Oct ;96(1):8-17. Epub 2019 Aug 16. PMID: 31447184
Akiko Sekiguchi
BACKGROUND: There is growing evidence that vasculopathy-induced hypoxia and oxidative stress enhance the process of fibrosis in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid widely found in various vegetables and fruits, and has been reported to have excellent antioxidant activity.
OBJECTIVE: Objective was to elucidate the effect of kaempferol on skin fibrosis and the mechanism of the inhibitory regulation of fibrosis by kaempferol.
METHODS: We assessed the effect of intraperitoneally administered kaempferol on bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis in mice. The effect of kaempferol on oxidative stress in bleomycin-treated mice and SSc fibroblasts was assessed in vivo and in vitro.
RESULTS: We identified that kaempferol injection significantly inhibited bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis in mice. The number ofαSMAmyofibroblasts, CD3T-cells, and CD68macrophages in lesional skin was significantly decreased by kaempferol injections. Kaempferol administration also significantly suppressed the bleomycin-induced oxidative stress signal in OKD48 mice. Additionally, mRNA levels of oxidative stress-associated factors, such as HO-1 and NOX2, as well as inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines, including IL-6, TGF-β and TNFα in sclerotic skin were significantly decreased by kaempferol. Kaempferol also reduced bleomycin-induced TUNELapoptotic cells in the lesional skin of bleomycin-treated mice. Furthermore, the oxidant-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in SSc fibroblasts was inhibited by kaempferol treatment. In addition, the oxidant-induced apoptosis of SSc fibroblasts was decreased by kaempferol in vitro.
CONCLUSION: Kaempferol might improve bleomycin-induced fibrosis by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and oxidative cellular damage. Administration of kaempferol might be an alternative treatment for skin fibrosis in SSc.