Coelenterazine alleviates sepsis-associated acute kidney injury by inhibiting ferroptosis via the USP14-NCOA4 pathway.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) is a frequent and severe complication of sepsis driven by systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and vascular dysfunction, culminating in renal tubular injury and impaired excretory function. Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, is increasingly recognized as a key mechanism in S-AKI. Protective factors such as glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and the cystine/glutamate antiporter (SLC7A11) suppress ferroptosis-mediated renal damage. This study aimed to evaluate whether coelenterazine (CTZ), a marine-derived antioxidant, inhibits ferroptosis to mitigate S-AKI and to elucidate its underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods

SUBMITTER: Bao D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12541497 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature