Zinc Chloride Enhances the Antioxidant Status, Improving the Functional and Structural Organic Disturbances in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Rats

Research progress of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and zinc in the mechanism of diabetic kidney disease

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the common complications in diabetic patients and has gradually become an important pathogenic factor in chronic kidney disease. Therefore, studying the mechanisms of its occurrence and development is of great significance for the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Some researchers have pointed out that there is a phenomenon of hypoxia in diabetic kidney tissue and believe that hypoxia-inducible factor-1α is closely related to the occurrence and progression of diabetic kidney disease. Additionally, the homeostasis of zinc plays a key role in the body's adaptation to hypoxic environments. However, the specific relationship among these three factors remains unclear. This article provides a detailed review of the multiple roles of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease, including: regulating angiogenesis, increasing the expression of erythropoietin, modulating oxidative stress through the PI3K/AKT and HIF-1α/HO-1 pathways, promoting inflammatory cell infiltration and the release of inflammatory factors to induce inflammatory responses, facilitating epithelial-mesenchymal transition, pathological angiogenesis, and promoting the release of fibrotic factors, ultimately leading to renal fibrosis. Furthermore, HIF-1α also participates in the occurrence and development of diabetic kidney disease through mechanisms such as regulating apoptosis, inducing mitochondrial autophagy, and vascular calcification. At the same time, this article clarifies the regulatory role of the trace element zinc on hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in diabetic kidney disease. This article provides references and insights for further research on the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic kidney disease.

Association between systemic immune-inflammation index and diabetes: a population-based study from the NHANES

Background

Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII) has been reported to be associated with diabetes. We aimed to assess possible links between SII and diabetes.

Methods

Data were obtained from the 2017-2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database. After removing missing data for SII and diabetes, we examined patients older than 20 years. Simultaneously, the relationship between SII and diabetes was examined using weighted multivariate regression analysis, subgroup analysis, and smooth curve fitting.

Results

There were 7877 subjects in this study, the average SII was 524.91 ± 358.90, and the prevalence of diabetes was 16.07%. Weighted multivariate regression analysis found that SII was positively associated with diabetes, and in model 3, this positive association remained stable (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.06; p = 0.0006), indicating that each additional unit of SII, the possibility of having diabetes increased by 4%. Gender, age, BMI, regular exercise, high blood pressure, and smoking did not significantly affect this positive link, according to the interaction test (p for trend>0.05).

Discussion

Additional prospective studies are required to examine the precise connection between higher SII levels and diabetes, which may be associated with higher SII levels.

Attenuating effects of Azanza garckeana fractions on glycemo-impaired-associated dyslipidemia, hepatopathy, and nephropathy

OBJECTIVES

The use of medicinal plants for diabetes treatment is increasing owing to their effectiveness and safety compared to synthetic drugs. Thus, the ameliorative effects of Azanza garckeana (F. Hoffm.) fractions in diabetes-induced dyslipidemia, hepatopathy, and nephropathy in rats were evaluated in this study.

METHODS

Rats with alloxan (120 mg/kg body weight (BW))-induced diabetes were randomized into different groups (n=5) and treated with the crude methanolic extract, and fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions) of A. garckeana each at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW. Glibenclamide (5 mg/kg BW) was used as a reference drug, and all treatments were administered orally daily for 6 weeks.

RESULTS

Our data revealed that treatment with the crude extract caused a dose-dependent hypoglycemic effect of 61.32±3.45%, 76.05±3.05%, and 78.59±5.90% at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW, respectively and improved the BW of the animals. The extract also ameliorated the elevated cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with untreated control animals. The extract also reversed serum biochemical alterations in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin, urea, and uric acid that were observed in untreated diabetic rats. Interestingly, the A. garckeana fraction also exhibited significant protection against diabetes-induced dyslipidemia, hepatopathy, and nephropathy in rats, with the ethyl acetate fraction exhibiting a remarkable protective effect. The LC-MS characterisation of the active fraction identified the presence of various phenolic and flavonoid compounds that could be responsible for the bioactivity of the fraction.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, this study suggests the potential application of A. garckeana for effective treatment of diabetic nephropathy, with the ethyl acetate fraction of this plant representing a reserve of potential candidates for developing new drugs.