Resveratrol reverts Streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Diabetes causes diabetic nephropathy (DN) which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. We tested whether Resveratrol (Res) reverses the systemic effect of Streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes and DN. Res treatment opposed the effect of STZ on kidney weight, 24 h urinary albumin excretion, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr). Res also decreased DN induced mTOR/ULK1-mediated autophagy and apoptosis and significantly reduced STZ mediated lipid deposition in nephrons, likely by decreasing the levels of lipogenic related proteins (SREBP-1c, ACS) and increased lipidolysis related proteins (PPARα, CPT-1). Together, these findings show the potential of Res in prevention of diabetic nephropathy.