Persistent increase in mitochondrial superoxide mediates cisplatin-induced chronic kidney disease

Severe and recurrent cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) as part of standard cancer therapy is a known risk factor for development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The specific role of superoxide (O ₂ ^•- )-mediated disruption of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in CKD after cisplatin treatment is unexplored. Cisplatin is typically administered in weekly or tri-weekly cycles as part of standard cancer therapy. To investigate the role of O ₂ ^•- in predisposing patients to future renal injury and in CKD, mice were treated with cisplatin and a mitochondrial-specific, superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, GC4419. Renal function, biomarkers of oxidative stress, mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, and kidney injury markers, as well as renal histology, were assessed to evaluate the cellular changes that occur one week and one month (CKD phase) after the cisplatin insult. Cisplatin treatment resulted in persistent upregulation of kidney injury markers, increased steady-state levels of O ₂ ^•- , increased O ₂ ^•- -mediated renal tubules damage, and upregulation of mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complex I activity both one week and one month following cisplatin treatment. Treatment with a novel, clinically relevant, small-molecule superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic, GC4419, restored mitochondrial ETC complex I activity to control levels without affecting complexes II–IV activity, as well as ameliorated cisplatin-induced kidney injury. These data support the hypothesis that increased mitochondrial O ₂ ^•- following cisplatin administration, as a result of disruptions of mitochondrial metabolism, may be an important contributor to both AKI and CKD progression.