Inflammatory milieu as an early marker of kidney injury in offspring rats from diabetic mothers

The present study investigated the early presence of inflammatory response in renal tissue of young offspring from diabetic mothers. The effect of l-arginine (l-arg) supplementation was also investigated. The offspring was divided into four groups: group CO (controls); group DO (diabetic offspring); group CA (CO receiving 2% l-arg solution) and group DA (DO receiving the 2% l-arg solution). Glycemia, arterial pressure and renal function were evaluated; gene and protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were also measured. Blood pressure levels were significantly increased in 2 and 6 month-old DO rats, whereas l-arg administration caused a significant decrease in the DA group, at both ages. DO rats showed a significantly blunted glycemic response to exogenous insulin. In 2 month-old DO animals, renal protein expression of pro-inflammatory molecules was significantly increased. At six months of age, we also observed an increase in gene expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, whereas l-arg supplementation prevented this increase at both ages. Our data suggest that activation of inflammatory pathways is present early in the kidney of DO rats, and that l-arg can attenuate the expression of these markers of tissue inflammation. Our results also reinforce the concept that intrauterine environmental factors are a fundamental determinant in the development of metabolic and vascular diseases later in life.