Nonetheless, the above effects were significantly abated in CI-AKI rats pretreated with SS (Nrf2: 0.24 ± 0.03 vs. 0.62 ± 0.06, p˂0.01; Keap1: 4.36 ± 0.44 vs. 2.71 ± 0.28, p˂0.001; HO-1: 0.26 ± 0.03 vs. 0.58 ± 0.06, p˂0.01; NQO1: 0.21 ± 0.02 vs. 0.64 ± 0.06, p˂0.001) (Fig. 5A-E), suggesting that SS promoted the activation of the Nrf2/ARE signaling transduction in the renal tissue of CI-AKI rats. Here, HMOX1 is linked to acute kidney injury.