Abstract
BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy has been a devastating complication. Clinically, there is an urgent need for nephroprotective agents to delay the onset of diabetic nephropathy and ameliorate its symptoms. Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene acid with protective effect on multiple organs against oxidative stress and inflammation. In this research, we hypothesized that maslinic acid protects renal function against diabetic nephropathy.MethodsC57BL/6 J male mice administrated with 50 mg/kg of Streptozocin (STZ) daily were used to establish diabetic mouse model (blood glucose levels > 300 mg/dL). Urinary levels of albumin, total proteins, and creatinine were analyzed by an automatic analyzer. H&E staining was used to evaluate renal damage. qRT-PCR and ELISA were performed to investigate the inflammation and oxidative stress in renal tissues. Western blot was used to assess the activation of AMPK signaling.ResultsMaslinic acid treatment alleviated the loss of body weight and blood glucose in diabetic mice. Renal structure and function were protected by maslinic acid in diabetic mice. 20 mg/kg maslinic acid treatment for 8 weeks significantly alleviated the oxidative stress and inflammation in the kidney of diabetic rats. Maslinic acid treatment activated the renal AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.ConclusionMaslinic acid ameliorates diabetic nephropathy and activates the renal AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.
Highlights
Diabetic nephropathy is a major chronic microvascular complication of diabetes [1, 2]
We chose 20 mg/kg as the Effects of maslinic acid on serum parameters in diabetic mice To investigate the effects of maslinic acid administration on renal functions, kidney/body weight, urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in the serum of mice with diabetic nephropathy were measured by an automatic analyzer (N = 14 per group)
20 mg/kg maslinic acid treatment significantly rescued the increased kidney/body weight ratio, suggesting that maslinic acid protected the nephron of mice with diabetic nephropathy from sclerosis
Summary
Diabetic nephropathy is a major chronic microvascular complication of diabetes [1, 2]. Chronic high blood glucose level and systemic metabolic abnormality caused by diabetes lead to glomerulosclerosis and kidney damage [3]. Diabetic nephropathy has been a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) [5]. Approximately 45% of ESRD patients in the United States suffer from diabetic nephropathy [6]. It is urgent to identify new agents to alleviate the symptoms of diabetic nephropathy and protect the renal function of diabetes patients. There is an urgent need for nephroprotective agents to delay the onset of diabetic nephropathy and ameliorate its symptoms. We hypothesized that maslinic acid protects renal function against diabetic nephropathy
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