The Protective Effect of Theaflavins on the Kidney of Mice with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy, primarily caused by advanced glycation end products (AGEs), is a serious complication resulting from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Reportedly, theaflavins (TFs) can improve diabetic nephropathy; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is not fully clear. In this study, T2DM mice were treated with different concentrations of TFs by gavage for 10 weeks to investigate the effect of TFs on diabetic nephropathy and their potential molecular mechanism of action. Biochemical and pathological analysis showed that the TFs effectively improved blood glucose, insulin resistance, kidney function, and other symptoms in diabetic mice. The mechanism studies indicated that TFs inhibited the formation of AGEs, thereby inhibiting the activation of the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, our study suggested that TFs improved diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the formation of AGEs.

Improvement of Theaflavins on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Diabetes Mellitus

“…Comparable to metformin, TFs decrease casual blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, and serum HbA1c levels, and ameliorate IGT in diabetic mice. Among TFs, TF3 exhibits the most potent hypoglycemic effect [ 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ]. Clinical studies have reported that TFs significantly reduce the fasting and postprandial blood glucose level in prediabetics [ 54 , 57 , 58 ].…”

“…Further, they inhibit the accumulation of AGEs, ROS, and inflammatory factors, thereby ameliorating diabetes mellitus and its complications, such as diabetic nephropathy. Moreover, TFs have been shown to be more effective than metformin at the same oral dose (150 mg/kg) [ 55 , 82 , 83 ]. In T2DM patients, TFs were found to upregulate the mRNA and protein expression of sirtuin1 (SIRT1), thereby enhancing insulin sensitivity, inhibiting hyperglycemia, and reducing oxidative stress [ 84 ].…”

“…In obese mice and patients with T2DM, TFs lead to reductions in body weight, waist circumference, and fat content in tissues such as the mesentery, epididymis, and liver [ 54 , 81 ]. Meanwhile, in slim T2DM mice and patients, TFs suppress body-weight loss [ 31 , 55 ]. Several studies have reported that the anti-obesity effect of TFs is partly attributed to appetite suppression and reduced food intake [ 32 , 53 ], while others have indicated that TFs do not affect food intake [ 54 ].…”

Theaflavin-3,3'-Digallate Protects Liver and Kidney Functions in Diabetic Rats by Up-Regulating Circ-ITCH and Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

“…In addition, Gothandam et al reported that theaflavins have antidiabetic potential by improving the activity of enzymes related to glucose metabolism in diabetic rats due to their antioxidant properties. Wang et al found that theaflavins may improve kidney damage in diabetic mice. The fact that oxidative stress performs a massive function in the development of diabetes and its complications has been widely recognized .…”

Epigenetic modification: A novel insight into diabetic wound healing

“…This demonstrates the growing social burden of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus can be associated with various complications, including retinopathy, neuropathy, renal failure, cardiovascular disease, and diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) [ 3 ]. The incidence of DFUs is approximately 15–25% or even more [ 4 ].…”