Long-chain bases from sea cucumber inhibits renal fibrosis and apoptosis in type 2 diabetic mice

Long-chain bases (LCBs) from sea cucumber exert antineoplastic, antihyperglycemia and anti-inflammatory activities. However, their renoprotective effects are undiscovered. Here, we investigated the effects of LCBs on protection against type 2 diabetic nephropathy in mice. Results showed that LCBs attenuated renal dysfunction through the reductions of urine glucose and albumin-to-creatinine ratio, which are associated with the decreases in serum lipids, body weight, insulin resistance, and renal inflammation. LCBs inhibited tubular atrophy, aglomerular lipid droplet, and glomeular basement membrane thickening, and promoted brush border density, suggesting their effects on protection against renal injury. LCBs mitigated renal fibrosis through blocking transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling. Renal apoptosis was suppressed by LCBs administration through activation of PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways. These results demonstrate that LCBs have significantly renoprotective effects via declining the progression of renal fibrosis and apoptosis. These will provide a significant implication for LCBs utilization as functional foods against type 2 diabetic nephropathy.