Pachymic acid protects against kidney injury in mice with diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of pachymic acid (PA) on diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups: control group, DN model group, and PA group. In the DN model and PA groups, the mice were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin (STZ) on five consecutive days to induce DN. In the control group, the mice were injected with saline. Then, mice in the PA group were treated with 5 mg/100 g PA for four consecutive weeks. Weight and fasting blood glucose were measured. The pathological condition of kidney tissue was examined by hematoxylin/eosin staining. Serum creatinine (Scr), urea nitrogen (BUN), urine protein (U-Pro), malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in kidney tissues were measured by enzyme immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Protein expression of AKT, PI3K, p-AKT, and p-PI3K in kidney tissues was evaluated by western blot. Results: Compared with the control group, mice in the DN model group weighed less; had a higher degree of kidney tissue damage; higher fasting blood glucose, Scr, BUN, U-Pro, MDA, p-AKT, and p- PI3K levels; and lower SOD activity. Compared with the DN model group, the PA group showed improvements in weight and kidney damage; had lower fasting blood glucose, Scr, BUN, U-Pro, p-AK, and p-PI3K levels; and higher SOD activity. Conclusion: PA treatment improves the renal function of DN mice and inhibits oxidative stress, probably by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway. These findings suggest that PA has potentials as a treatment for DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]