Esculin reduces P2X7 and reverses mitochondrial dysfunction in the renal cortex of diabetic rats.

AIMS: To evaluate the effects of esculin treatment on P2X7 receptor and mitochondrial dysfunction in the renal cortex of diabetic rats. MAIN METHODS: Male Wistar rats, 7 weeks old, were unilaterally nephrectomized. Part of these animals were induced to diabetes using streptozotocin (60 mg/kg). Diabetes was confirmed 48 h after induction, with blood glucose levels ≥200 mg/dL. Part of control and diabetic animals were selected to receive daily doses of esculin (50 mg/kg), during 8 weeks. The animals were placed in metabolic cages at the eighth week of protocol for 24 h urine collection and a small aliquot of blood was collected for biochemical analysis. After this procedure, the animals were euthanized and the remaining kidney was stored for histopathological analysis, Western blotting and mitochondrial high-resolution respirometry. KEY FINDINGS: Although esculin did not change metabolic parameters, renal biochemical function, neither TBARS in DM rats, esculin reduced P2X7 levels in these animals and restored mitochondrial function via glycolysis substrates and ß-oxidation. Besides, at the histological analysis, we observed that esculin reduced inflammatory infiltrates and collagen IV deposits as compared to diabetic group. SIGNIFICANCE: Esculin attenuated the development of renal injuries caused by hyperglycemia, proinflammatory and oxidative mechanisms mediated by P2X7 receptor, as seen by histological findings and improved mitochondrial function in diabetic animals. This suggests that esculin could be used as an adjuvant therapy to prevent the diabetic nephropathy.

Lack of association of C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene with diabetes mellitus type 2 in a case-control study of women in Brazil.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common autosomal recessive diseases; it is characterized by excess absorption of iron. Clinically, the major challenge is to diagnose increased iron deposition before irreversible tissue damage has occurred. C282Y and H63D are the main mutations related to hereditary hemochromatosis; these mutations have been reported to be associated with increased risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). We investigated whether these mutations are associated with increased risk for the development of DM2 in women in Brazil. Seventy-two women with clinical diagnosis of DM2 under treatment with hypoglycemic agents and a control group composed of 72 women with no clinical history of diabetes were studied. The C282Y and H63D mutations were determined by PCR-RFLP. Significant differences were not observed for C282Y and H63D, when we compared diabetic and non-diabetic women. We suggest that mutations C282Y and H63D in the HFE gene are not significant risk factors for the development of DM2 in Brazilian women.