title: The protective effects of oral low-dose quercetin on diabetic nephropathy in hypercholesterolemic mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important causes of chronic renal disease, and the incidence of DN is increasing worldwide. Considering our previous report (Gomes et al., 2014) indicating that chronic treatment with oral low-dose quercetin (10 mg/Kg) demonstrated anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic and renoprotective effects in the C57BL/6J model of DN, we investigated whether this flavonoid could also have beneficial effects in concurrent DN and spontaneous atherosclerosis using the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse (apoE(-/-)).
  
  
  METHODS
  Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes (100 mg/kg/day, 3 days) in male apoE(-/-) mice (8 week-old). After 6 weeks, the mice were randomly separated into DQ: diabetic apoE(-/-) mice treated with quercetin (10 mg/kg/day, 4 weeks, n = 8), DV: diabetic ApoE(-/-) mice treated with vehicle (n = 8) and ND: non-treated non-diabetic mice (n = 8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Quercetin treatment diminished polyuria (~30%; p < 0.05), glycemia (~25%, p < 0.05), normalized the hypertriglyceridemia. Moreover, this bioflavonoid diminished creatininemia (~30%, p < 0.01) and reduced proteinuria but not to normal levels. We also observed protective effects on the renal structural changes, including normalization of the index of glomerulosclerosis and kidney weight/body weight.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data revealed that quercetin treatment significantly reduced DN in hypercholesterolemic mice by inducing biochemical changes (decrease in glucose and triglycerides serum levels) and reduction of glomerulosclerosis. Thus, this study highlights the relevance of quercetin as an alternative therapeutic option for DN, including in diabetes associated with dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabele B S
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcella L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Vila Velha University Vila Velha, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria C L F S
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, Brazil ; Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Vila Velha University Vila Velha, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bianca P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Campagnaro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Agata L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gava
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Meyrelles
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Vila Velha University Vila Velha, Brazil ; Department of Biotechnology, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology (IFES) Vila Velha, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago M C
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Translational Physiology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, Brazil ; Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Vila Velha University Vila Velha, Brazil ; Emescam School of Health Sciences Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Vasquez
keywords: apoE; atherosclerosis; diabetes; nephropathy; quercetin; streptozotocin