Magnesium Attenuates Renal Senescence and Fibrosis With Reduced DNA Damage Response and H3K4me3 Enrichment at the p16INK4a Promoter

Abstract

Renal fibrosis is a final pathway leading to end‐stage renal disease, with cellular senescence contributing to fibrosis and inflammation. Magnesium ions (Mg2+) are implicated in DNA stabilization and epigenetic regulation. In this study, we hypothesized that Mg2+ ameliorates renal fibrosis in association with reduced DNA damage responses and injury‐induced cellular senescence, along with altered histone H3K4 trimethylation. To test this, we used murine models of radiation‐induced organ injury and renal ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI), along with primary cultured mouse renal proximal tubular cells. Mice received intraperitoneal MgSO4 (600 mg/kg) before radiation or IRI, with repeated dosing (300 mg/kg) after IRI. Cultured cells were treated with 6.4 mM MgSO4. We demonstrated that Mg2+ provided protection against radiation injury and reduced radiation‐induced DNA damage markers in renal cells both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Mg2+ suppressed IRI‐induced morphological alterations, DNA damage, and cellular senescence in the kidneys, while inhibiting renal inflammation and cGAS‐STING pathway activation, along with attenuation of renal fibrosis in IRI model mice. Consistent with these findings, a reduction in the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and fibrosis‐related genes was observed. Finally, Mg2+ was associated with decreased p16INK4a transcription and reduced H3K4 trimethylation levels at its promoter in primary renal tubular cells. Our findings suggest that Mg2+ alleviates renal DNA damage while protecting against inflammation and fibrosis with accompanying epigenetic modulation. Although clinically relevant pharmacological Mg2+ dosing and therapeutic applicability require further investigation, these insights may inform therapeutic strategies targeting fibrosis and senescence‐related kidney disease.