Creatine reduces collagen accumulation in the kidneys of diabetic db/db mice.
In the present study, we tested the hypothesis whether creatine, a metabolite of arginine metabolism, shares the pharmacological activities of arginine reducing collagen accumulation in the diabetic kidney. Ten db/db mice were given, for 3 months, a solution containing a daily dosage of creatine of 50 mg/kg body weight. Eleven db/db mice served as controls. At the end of the 3-month study period, the mean N-carboxymethyllysine concentration in the untreated group was significantly higher than in the treated group (0.163 +/- 0.18 versus 0.096 +/- 0.017 nmol/mumol hydroxyproline, p < 0.001). Collagen accumulation was also significantly higher in the untreated than in the treated group (2.21 +/- 0.24 versus 1.68 +/- 0.22 mumol hydroxyproline/100 mg kidney weight, p < 0.001). We conclude that creatine led to a significant reduction in collagen type IV accumulation resembling arginine or aminoguanidine action. We do suggest that the guanidino group common to both compounds is able to block reactive carbonyls.
Lubec
B
B
Department of Paediatrics, University of Vienna, Austria.
Aufricht
C
C
Herkner
K
K
Hoeger
H
H
Adamiker
D
D
Gialamas
H
H
Fang-Kircher
S
S
Lubec
G
G
D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D003401:Creatine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003094:Collagen; D003401:Creatine; D006909:Hydroxyproline