Nephroprotective mechanism of Kunkui Baoshen decoction in diabetic kidney disease: Targeting the HERC2/NCOA4-mediated autophagy-dependent ferroptosis pathway

Figure 7 Ferroptosis in human kidney-2 cells under high-glucose conditions. A: Intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in the normal (NG) and high glucose (HG) groups were visualized using fluorescence microscopy (scale bars = 50 μm); B: Quantification of reactive oxygen species fluorescence intensity (expressed as relative fluorescent area%) in the NG and HG groups; C: Intracellular iron (Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺) levels in the NG and HG groups; D: Malondialdehyde levels in the NG and HG groups; E: Glutathione to oxidized glutathione ratio in the NG and HG groups; F-I: Expression levels of ferroptosis-related markers glutathione peroxidase 4 and recombinant solute carrier family 7 member 11 were analyzed by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in the NG and HG groups. NG: Normal group; HG: High glucose; MDA: Malondialdehyde; GSH: Glutathione; GSSG: Oxidized glutathione; GPX4: Glutathione peroxidase 4; SLC7A11: Solute carrier family 7 member 11; GAPDH: Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. ^aP < 0.05 vs normal group, ^bP < 0.01 vs normal group, ^cP < 0.001 vs normal group, and ^dP < 0.0001 vs normal group.