Renoprotective Effect of Isoorientin in Diabetic Nephropathy via Activating Autophagy and Inhibiting the PI3K-AKT-TSC2-mTOR Pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes and the most common cause of death. The autophagy of podocytes plays an important role in the pathogenesis of DN. Here, through screening the constituent compounds of practical and useful Chinese herbal formulas, we identified that isoorientin (ISO) strongly promoted the autophagy of podocytes and could effectively protect podocytes from high glucose (HG)-induced injury. ISO significantly improved autophagic clearance of damaged mitochondria under HG conditions. Through a proteomics-based approach, we identified that ISO could reverse the excessive phosphorylation of TSC2 S939 under HG conditions and stimulate autophagy through inhibition of the PI3K-AKT-TSC2-mTOR pathway. Furthermore, ISO was predicted to bind to the SH2 domain of PI3Kp85[Formula: see text], which is crucial for the recruitment and activation of PI3K. The protective effect of ISO and its effects on autophagy and particularly on mitophagy were further proved using a DN mice model. To summarize, our study identified the protective effects of ISO against DN and demonstrated that ISO was a strong activator of autophagy, which could provide a basis for drug development.

Modified Chuanhu anti-gout mixture, a traditional Chinese medicine, protects against potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia and renal dysfunction in mice.

OBJECTIVE: Acute gout is a painful, inflammatory arthritis that features a rapidly escalating inflammatory response resulting from the formation of monosodium urate crystals in the affected joint space. Previously, we found that Chuanhu anti-gout mixture (CAGM) had similar effects as colchicine against gout in the clinic. Subsequently, to improve its effectiveness and efficacy, we modified the original formulation of CAGM. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of the modified formulation in mice. METHODS: Potassium oxonate (PO) was used to establish a mouse model of hyperuricemia. Plasma levels of uric acid and creatine were determined using the respective test kits. Hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) expression was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To explore the underlying mechanism, renal urate transporter 1 (URAT1) mRNA levels were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Allopurinol and benzbromarone were used as reference drugs. RESULTS: The original CAGM and its modified high-dose formulation significantly reduced serum uric acid and creatine levels in hyperuricemic mice. In addition, the CAGM-treated groups displayed lower mRNA levels of hepatic XOD and renal URAT1. CONCLUSIONS: CAGM and its modified formulation significantly ameliorated PO-induced hyperuricemia in mice, which might be partially attributable to reductions of hepatic XOD and renal URAT1 levels.