Hepato-/reno-protective activity of Chinese prescription Kangen-karyu through inhibition of AGE formation and fibrosis-related protein expression in type 2 diabetes.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

This study was conducted to examine whether Kangen-karyu, a Chinese prescription, has an ameliorative effect on diabetes-induced alterations such as advanced glycation endproduct (AGE) formation or the fibrotic response in liver and kidney of type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

METHODS:

Kangen-karyu (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight/day, p.o.) was administered every day for 18 weeks to db/db mice, and its effect was compared with vehicle-treated db/db and m/m mice.

KEY FINDINGS:

The administration of Kangen-karyu decreased the elevated serum glucose concentration in db/db mice. The increased serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels, which reflect renal dysfunction in db/db mice, were significantly lowered by Kangen-karyu administration. The db/db mice exhibited the up-regulation of AGEs and its receptor expression in liver and kidney; however, Kangen-karyu treatment significantly reduced expression except for the receptor. Moreover, the augmented expressions of fibrosis-related proteins, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, fibronectin and collagen IV were down-regulated by Kangen-karyu administration.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results provide important evidence that Kangen-karyu exhibits a pleiotropic effect on AGE formation and fibrosis-related parameters, representing hepatoprotective and renoprotective effects against the development of diabetic complications in type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

• Authors: Takuya Okamoto, Chan Hum Park, Jeong Sook Noh, Kazuo Toriizuka, Yasuo Sei, Jong Cheol Park, Takako Yokozawa
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology (J Pharm Pharmacol) Vol. 63 Issue 7 Pg. 952-9 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 2042-7158 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21635261 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2011 The Authors. JPP © 2011 Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Collagen Type IV
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Fibronectins
• Glycation End Products, Advanced
• Kangen-karyu
• Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
• Receptors, Immunologic
• Tgfb1 protein, mouse
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Collagen Type IV (metabolism)
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (complications, drug therapy, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Diabetic Nephropathies (prevention & control)
• Down-Regulation (drug effects)
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Fatty Liver (prevention & control)
• Fibronectins (metabolism)
• Fibrosis (prevention & control)
• Glycation End Products, Advanced (metabolism)
• Hyperglycemia (prevention & control)
• Kidney (drug effects, metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Liver (drug effects, metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (prevention & control)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Obese
• Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products
• Receptors, Immunologic (metabolism)
• Transforming Growth Factor beta1 (metabolism)