Objective To explore whether adiponectin receptor 1/2 (AdipoR1/R2) mediates berberine to alleviate renal lipid toxicity in mice with diabetic kidney disease.
Methods C57BLKS/J db/db mice and db/m mice were selected and divided into 4 groups, with 8 in each group. db/db mice and db/m mice were given berberine (150 mg·kg﹣1·d﹣1) or placebo by gavage for 12 weeks, respectively. After intervention, blood glucose, blood lipids, urinary microalbumin/creatinine ratio and urinary albumin excretion rate were determined. Kidney tissues were taken for pathological examination, and oil red O staining, immunohistochemistry, ELISA and Western blotting were used to examine lipid deposition, AdipoR1/R2 expression and fibrosis markers expressions, etc., respectively. The human glomerular endothelial cell line (HGEC) was used to verify the role of AdipoR1/R2 in berberine alleviating renal lipid toxicity.
Results After berberine intervention, the body weight, blood glucose, lipids, proteinuria, renal lipid deposition, and renal pathological changes decreased in db/db mice (P < 0.05); the expressions of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 increased, expressions of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ decreased, and the expressions of PPAR-α and p-AMPK increased in kidney tissue of db/db mice (P < 0.05). In high-fat cultured HGEC cells treated with berberine-treated db/db mouse serum, the expressions of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ decreased, while the expressions of PPAR-α and p-AMPK increased (P < 0.05); after AdipoR1/R2 on HGEC cells were silenced, the expressions of TGF-β1 and Col-Ⅳ increased, while the expressions of PPAR-α and p-AMPK decreased (P < 0.05).
Conclusions Berberine can reduce renal lipid toxicity in diabetic nephropathy mice, and adiponectin receptor may mediate this effect of berberine.
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