Effects of Nostoc sphaeroids Kütz polysaccharide on renal fibrosis in high-fat mice

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the effects of Nostoc sphaeroids Kütz polysaccharide (NSKP) on renal fibrosis in high-fat mice. ApoE^−/− male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (Cont) group, high-fat diet (HFD) group, HFD+0.4 g/kg BW NSKP, and HFD+0.8 g/kg BW NSKP (NSKP groups). The Cont was fed a standard diet. The HFD group was fed HFD. Every day, NSKP groups were fed HFD, as well as given 0.4 g/kg BW or 0.8 g/kg BW NSKP. After 22 weeks, the serum biochemical indices (TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, GLU, BUN, and SCR) were measured. For the kidney, the histopathological sections were observed and analyzed, and inflammatory factors and markers of renal fibrosis were measured. For the NSKP groups, the serum TC, TG, LDL-C, BUN, and SCR were decreased, HDL-C significantly increased compared with the HFD group. The protein expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, and TGF-β1 were significantly downregulated. The α-SMA in renal cortex was decreased, and the mRNA expression of Col-I and Col-IV in renal collagen fibers was downregulated. To sum up, NSKP reduced the blood lipid of HFD mice, downregulated the inflammation of kidney, inhibited the expression of collagen fiber, and improved the renal fibrosis caused by long-term lipid metabolism disorder.