Kaempferol suppresses inflammation in mice suffering from both hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis through inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway

Abstract The co-occurrence of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis is common in patients, yet a suitable animal model for this condition is lacking. In present study, a mice model combined hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis was established. Kaempferol, a flavonoid compound with anti-inflammatory and urate-lowering properties, was administered to mice in different dosages (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). The levels of uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and xanthine oxidase activity were measured, then kidney and joint ankle tissues were examined for pathological changes. The expressions of renal transporters, oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were detected. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of kaempferol was verified from NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. The results of histological analyses showed that kaempferol ameliorated the glomerular and renal tubular lesions and ankle arthritis inflammatory infiltration caused by hyperuricemia combined with gouty arthritis. Additionally, treatment with kaempferol effectively alleviated oxidative stress and decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The research confirmed that kidney and joint inflammation in hyperuricemia combined with gouty arthritis mice were alleviated by kaempferol via suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway.