Protection against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury by hellgrammite extract: insights from comprehensive metabolomics.

BACKGROUND

Cisplatin (CP), a highly potent antineoplastic agent, is severely limited in clinical use by dose-limiting toxicities, particularly acute kidney injury (AKI). The hellgrammite (Hel), a kind of rare edible and medicinal insect, is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for its ability to tonify the qi and kidneys. However, its potential to ameliorate CP-induced AKI remains unexplored.

METHODS

We first evaluated the nutritional profile of Hel using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for amino acid composition analysis. Subsequently, a mouse model of CP-induced AKI was treated with different doses of Hel by gavage, then traditional pharmacology, and metabolomics were used to elucidate the effects and mechanism of Hel on CP-induced AKI mice.

RESULTS

Hel effectively ameliorated CP-induced alterations in biochemical indicators and alleviated kidney pathological changes. Hel administration rectified the kidney metabolic disturbances induced by CP, involving alterations in 38 differential metabolites associated with glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, and thiamine metabolism.

DISCUSSION: Hel confers renoprotection by reversing metabolic disorders in CP-induced AKI, revealing actionable targets for AKI intervention.