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The imidazopyridine derivative X22 prevents diabetic kidney dysfunction through inactivating NF-κB signaling

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Abstract

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is considered a chronic inflammatory renal disease induced by hyperglycemia. Therefore, even meticulous control of blood glucose levels cannot prevent the progression of DKD efficiently. Management of the inflammatory response could be one of the most promising strategies for treatment. We previously validated an imidazopyridine derivative (X22) as an active compound in suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. However, its potential for protection against DKD has not been exanimated. In the present study, streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mice were used to study the effect of X22 on DKD associated inflammation and fibrosis by Q-PCR and immunoblotting assays. The results showed that X22 significantly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and fibrosis biomarkers. At the same time, kidney function was dramatically improved. To elucidate the mechanism of action of X22, we examined its effects on the NRK-52E cell line. Strikingly, X22 restored the protein level of IKB-α and blocked the nuclear translocation of P65. Collectively, the data indicate that X22 can attenuate diabetic kidney dysfunction and inflammatory injury and may represent a potential agent for the treatment of DKD. It could be a potential agent for use in the treatment of DKD.

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... Factors such as hyperglycemia, glycation end products, and infection lead to the enhancement of oxidative stress in the body [8], activating IкB kinase (IKK), and the activated IKK phosphorylates IκB, thereby separating it from NF-κB, releasing NF-κB p50/p65, and translocating NF-kB into the nucleus, binding to target gene loci to initiate downstream gene expression, accelerating the stimulation of the expression and transcription of various signaling factors in the body, and increasing the level of inflammatory factors in the body [9]. Among the many inhibitory proteins of NF-kB, IKB-α is the most important and the first to be cloned [10], initiating the transcription and expression of a series of specific proinflammatory factor genes [11]. ...
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HEZHIFNAG (HZF) is a traditional Chinese prescription used to treat diabetes. In this study, a mouse model of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) induced by alloxan was used, and the random blood glucose of diabetic mice decreased significantly after the intervention of HZF, and the morphological results showed that HZF improved the pathological damage of glomeruli, reduced the degree of fibrosis of kidney tissue, and increased the expression level of IKBα in the kidney of diabetic mice, suggesting that HZF has a protective effect on the DKD mice, and the mechanism of action may be related to the up-regulation of IKB-α expression.
... In addition, TSF was found to suppress the TLR4/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and NF-κB signaling pathways in the kidneys. This suppression resulted in a decrease in microalbuminuria and serum creatinine levels, as well as the inhibition of moderate expansion of the kidney thylakoid matrix, luminal dilatation, and tubular interstitium of rats with DKD induced by STZ and uninephrectomy [215]. Furthermore, a purified preparation of anthraquinone-glycosides derived from rhubarb, which are monomeric compounds found in rhubarb, has been shown to reduce inflammation in individuals with DM [216] ( Table 1). ...
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Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a prevailing complication arising from diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately, there are no trustworthy and efficacious treatment modalities currently available. In recent times, compelling evidence has emerged regarding the intricate correlation between the kidney and the gut microbiota, which is considered the largest immune organ within the human physique. Various investigations have demonstrated that the perturbation of the gut microbiota and its associated metabolites potentially underlie the etiology and progression of DKD. This phenomenon may transpire through perturbation of both the innate and the adaptive immunity, leading to a burdensome allostatic load on the body and ultimately culminating in the development of DKD. Within this literature review, we aim to delve into the intricate interplay between the gut microbiota, its metabolites, and the immune system in the context of DKD. Furthermore, we strive to explore and elucidate potential chemical interventions that could hold promise for the treatment of DKD, thereby offering invaluable insights and directions for future research endeavors.
... Relevant findings have been shown in other reports. For example the development of DN was associated with lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation (Jiang et al., 2020), gut microbiota dysbiosis (Fernandes et al., 2019), and oxidative stress (Gerardo Yanowsky-Escatell et al., 2020), which were partially in line with our findings. Notably, a previous study indicated the crosstalk between inflammation and oxidative stress mechanisms in DN pathogenesis (Samsu, 2021). ...
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Inflammation is a pathological hallmark of ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present study was conducted to explore the ability of a new anti-inflammatory compound, X22, to attenuate retinal I/R injury via cytokine-inhibitory mechanism. For the in vitro experiment, ARPE-19 cells were pre-treated with X22 (5 or 10 μM) or saline for 2 h, followed by stimulation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP, 1000 μM) for an indicated amount of time. The expression of inflammatory mediators, cell viability, and cell apoptosis were evaluated. For the in vivo experiment, the rats were randomized to receive treatment with saline or X22 (0.1 μM/kg, 3 μL) before the induction of I/R injury. Histological evaluation, apoptosis of retinal cells, macrophage infiltration, and retina functional changes were further determined. Our data showed that pretreatment with X22 significantly inhibited TBHP-induced inflammatory cytokine expression in ARPE-19 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of X22 may be associated with its inhibition on MAPKs, rather than NF-κB. Subsequently, our data proved that TBHP induced apoptosis in ARPE-19 cells, while pretreatment of X22 significantly suppressed TBHP-caused ARPE-19 apoptosis. Finally, the in vivo data revealed that X22 administration maintained better inner retinal layer structures, reduced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cell, and improved retinal function in retinal I/R rat models, which were accompanied with a remarkable decrease in retinal macrophage infiltration. These results suggest that the novel compound X22 is a potential agent for the treatment of retinal I/R-related diseases via the MAPKs-targeting anti-inflammatory mechanism and deserves the further development. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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Many lines of evidence, ranging from in vitro experiments and pathological examinations to epidemiological studies, show that inflammation is a cardinal pathogenetic mechanism in diabetic nephropathy. Thus, modulation of inflammatory processes in the setting of diabetes mellitus is a matter of great interest for researchers today. The relationships between inflammation and the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy involve complex molecular networks and processes. This Review, therefore, focuses on key proinflammatory molecules and pathways implicated in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy: the chemokines CCL2, CX3CL1 and CCL5 (also known as MCP-1, fractalkine and RANTES, respectively); the adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion protein 1, endothelial cell-selective adhesion molecule, E-selectin and α-actinin 4; the transcription factor nuclear factor κB; and the inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor. Advances in the understanding of the roles that these inflammatory pathways have in the context of diabetic nephropathy will facilitate the discovery of new therapeutic targets. In the next few years, promising new therapeutic strategies based on anti-inflammatory effects could be successfully translated into clinical treatments for diabetic complications, including diabetic nephropathy.
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