title: Phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin from Spirulina platensis protect against diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting oxidative stress.
abstract: We and other investigators have reported that bilirubin and its precursor biliverdin may have beneficial effects on diabetic vascular complications, including nephropathy, via its antioxidant effects. Here, we investigated whether phycocyanin derived from Spirulina platensis, a blue-green algae, and its chromophore phycocyanobilin, which has a chemical structure similar to that of biliverdin, protect against oxidative stress and renal dysfunction in db/db mice, a rodent model for Type 2 diabetes. Oral administration of phycocyanin (300 mg/kg) for 10 wk protected against albuminuria and renal mesangial expansion in db/db mice, and normalized tumor growth factor-β and fibronectin expression. Phycocyanin also normalized urinary and renal oxidative stress markers and the expression of NAD(P)H oxidase components. Similar antioxidant effects were observed following oral administration of phycocyanobilin (15 mg/kg) for 2 wk. Phycocyanobilin, bilirubin, and biliverdin also inhibited NADPH dependent superoxide production in cultured renal mesangial cells. In conclusion, oral administration of phycocyanin and phycocyanobilin may offer a novel and feasible therapeutic approach for preventing diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Internal Medicine and Bioregulatory Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyusyu Univ., Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Toyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoguchi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Mark F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: McCarty
authors.forename: Masakazu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Kunihisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sonoda
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000494:pharmacology; D001664:Biliverdine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D052980:Phycobilins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010798:Phycocyanin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053545:Spirulina / Q000737:chemistry*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005353:Fibronectins; D052980:Phycobilins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D010798:Phycocyanin; D013481:Superoxides; C011069:phycocyanobilin; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D001664:Biliverdine; D001663:Bilirubin