Disulfiram inhibits inflammation and fibrosis in a rat unilateral ureteral obstruction model by inhibiting gasdermin D cleavage and pyroptosis

Background: As an inhibitor of GSDMD, Disulfiram (DSL) can significantly inhibit cell Pyroptosis. Cell Pyroptosis plays an important role in renal fibrosis.

Methods: HK-2 cells were induced by Lps and ATP to form a Pyroptosis model, and the cells were treated by DSL. CCK-8 detected the cell activity. Immunofluorescence (IF) detected the GSDMD. ELISA detected the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Flow cytometry and Western blot detected cell Apoptosis and Pyroptosis. Collagen type I kit detected collagen secretion, and western blot detected fibrosis marker protein expression. Then, a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was established. HE staining detected the degree of renal tissue injury, and Masson staining detected the degree of fibrosis. What's more, the Apoptosis level of tissue cells was detected by TUNEL. And the inflammatory factors in peripheral blood and renal tissue were detected by ELISA. Furthermore, the expression of GSDMD was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of Apoptosis and pyroptosis-related proteins in tissues.

Results: It was found that DSL can inhibit the cell membrane perforation of GSDMD-N by inhibiting the cleavage of GSDMD, hence, it inhibited the occurrence of inflammation, cell Pyroptosis, and the fibrosis of HK-2 cells. But if the cell has already undergone Pyroptosis, DSL does not provide significant prevention. In vivo experiment, it further verified that pretreated DSL had inhibited renal fibrosis injury.

Conclusion: Disulfiram can inhibit inflammation and fibrosis in renal fibrosis rats by inhibiting GSDMD.