Arctigenin ameliorates renal impairment and inhibits endoplasmic reticulum stress in diabetic db/db mice

Publication date: Available online 18 March 2019Source: Life SciencesAuthor(s): Jing Zhang, Peng Cao, Jingjing Gui, Xin Wang, Jun Han, Yuwei Wang, Guodong WangAbstractAimsDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) plays an important role in the development and progression of DN. Arctigenin (ATG), a lignan extract from Fructus Arctii, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, anti-oxidative stress and immunomodulatory properties. The present research aimed to investigate whether ATG could protect against diabetes-related renal injury and inhibit ER stress in db/db mice.Main methodsMale db/db mice were randomly divided into two groups: DN group and ATG treatment group (DN + ATG). db/m mice were defined as the normal control group (NC). ATG was dissolved in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt solution and administered orally at a dose of 80 mg/kg to mice in the DN + ATG group once daily for 8 consecutive weeks.Key findingsATG administration significantly reduced blood glucose, urine albumin excretion, and urine albumin to creatinine ratio, and attenuated renal pathological injury when compared with untreated db/db mice. These changes were accompanied by decreased expression of both ER stress-related markers and caspase 12 level in the kidneys of db/db mice. In vitro, high glucose activated ER stress signal transduction pathway and cell apoptosis in HK2 cells, which were blocked by ATG.Significance...
Source: Life Sciences - Category: Biology Source Type: research