Se Alleviated Oxidative Stress-Mediated Complex Poisoning Mechanism in Pb-Treated Chicken Kidneys: Inflammation, Heat Shock Response, and Autophagy

Abstract

Background: Lead (Pb) is a toxic environmental pollutant and can exerts toxicity in kidneys. It is known that selenium (Se) has an antagonistic effect on Pb poisoning. However, biological events during the process were not well understood in chicken kidneys.Methods: One hundred and eighty male Hyline chickens (7-day-old) were randomly divided into the control group (offering standard diet and potable water), the Se group (offering Na2SeO3-added standard diet and potable water), the Pb group (offering standard diet and (CH3OO)2Pb-added potable water), and the Pb+Se group (offering Na2SeO3-added standard diet and (CH3OO)2Pb-added potable water). On 30th, 60th, and 90th days, kidneys were removed to perform the studies of histological structure, oxidative stress indicators, cytokines, heat shock proteins, and autophagy in the chicken kidneys.Results: The experimental results indicated that Pb poisoning changed renal histological structure; decreased catalase, glutathione-s-transferase, and total antioxidative capacity activities; increased hydrogen peroxide content; induced mRNA and protein expression of heat shock proteins; inhibited interleukin (IL)-2 mRNA expression, and induced IL-4 and IL-12β mRNA expression; inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin mRNA and protein expression, and induced autophagy-related gene mRNA and protein expression in the chicken kidneys. Supplement of Se mitigated the above changes caused by Pb.Conclusion: Our research strengthens the evidence that Pb induced oxidative stress, inflammation, heat shock response, and autophagy and Se administration alleviated Pb poisoning through mitigating oxidative stress in the chicken kidneys.