Free radical scavenger offers protection against oxidative stress in diabetic kidney

Abstract

Abstract-Oxidative stress plays pivotal roles in heightening the pathology of diabetic nephropathy. Widely known free radical scavenger, edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazoline-5-one), has been proven to give benefits in cardiovascular and brain diseases by attenuating oxidative stress. Additionally, whether this drug give benefits in the diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. To investigate the roles of free radical scavenger on oxidative stress markers in the diabetic nephropathy. Methods. C57BL/6 mice were subjected to 56 days diabetes mellitus induced by streptozotocin. Three and ten mg/kg BW edaravone was given by intraperitoneal injection twice daily for 28 days. Renal oxidative stress and treatment efficacies were analyzed by TBARS, western blot, immunohistopathology and TUNEL Assay. Body weight reduction was observed in all diabetic group. Edaravone did not improve the body weight loss, however, it significantly reduced blood glucose level in the diabetic mice. Additionally, significant reduction of MDA level was observed in the group received edaravone treatment. Renal fibrosis, apoptosis as well as protein expression of p22 and p67-phox were significantly increased in the diabetic mice. Edaravone treatment significantly attenuated renal fibrosis, apoptosis and oxidative stress. These results suggest that oxidative stress plays important roles in the pathology of diabetic nephropathy and free radical scavenger protects the kidney against oxidative stress at least in part through the inhibition of p22 and p67-phox expressions. Conclusively, treatment of free radical scavenger may become novel strategy in the prevention of diabetic kidney complications.