Effects of Quercetin on Tubular Cell Apoptosis and Kidney Damage in Rats Induced by Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated that many nanoparticles have an adverse or toxic effect on the kidney. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nephroprotective effect of quercetin (QT) against renal injury induced by titanium dioxide nanoparticles (NTiO2) in rats. METHODS: NTiO(2)-intoxicated rats received 50 mg/kg of NTiO(2) for seven days. The QT + NTiO(2) group was pretreated with QT for seven days before being administered NTiO(2). Uric acid, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were considered to be biomarkers of nephrotoxicity. Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and renal levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured to assess the oxidative stress caused by NTiO(2). RESULTS: NTiO(2) significantly increased the plasma level of the biomarkers. It also significantly decreased the activities of CAT (P = 0.008) and SOD (P = 0.004), and significantly increased the MDA levels (P = 0.007). NTiO(2) caused proximal tubule damage, the accumulation of red blood cells, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, and reduced the glomerular diameters, as well as induced apoptosis in the proximal tubules. Pre-treatment with QT attenuated the histological changes, normalised the plasma biomarkers, suppressed oxidative stress, ameliorated the activities of CAT (P = 0.007) and SOD (P = 0.006), and reduced apoptosis (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: QT was found to have a potent protective effect against nephrotoxicity induced by NTiO(2) in rats. It also reduced apoptosis caused by NTiO(2).