β-LAPachone is renoprotective in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice via regulating the PI۳K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway

Objective(s): β-LAPachone (B-LAP) is a natural product with established anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the protective potential of B-LAP against diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic mice.Materials and Methods: Diabetes induction in mice was carried out by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ. ۲.۵ mg/kg/day and ۵ mg/kg/day doses of B-LAP were administered orally for twelve weeks and renal histoarchitecture, caspase-۳, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), as well as urinary nephrin and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were evaluated. Additionally, kidney levels of PI۳K, phosphorylated (p)-Akt, p-mTOR, p-CREB, and SIRT۱ were assessed in the present investigation.Results: ۵ mg/kg B-LAP significantly decreased urinary excretions of nephrin and NGAL. It also mitigated renal TNF-α and MDA levels and simultaneously improved GPX activities. ۵ mg/kg B-LAP improved renal function in diabetic mice as indicated by elevated values of creatinine clearance. While B-LAP elevated renal levels of SIRT۱, it alleviated PI۳K, p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-CREB levels in the kidneys of diabetic mice.Conclusion: Collectively, these findings suggest B-LAP as a potential renoprotective agent in STZ-induced diabetic mice probably via modulating the PI۳K/Akt/mTOR pathway.

Keywords:

Akt β , LAPachone Diabetic nephropathy mTOR PI۳K