Antiglycative and anti-VEGF effects of s-ethyl cysteine and s-propyl cysteine in kidney of diabetic mice

Mol Nutr Food Res. 2008 Nov;52(11):1358-64. doi: 10.1002/mnfr.200800007.

Abstract

Antiglycative and antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) effects of s-ethyl cysteine (SEC), and s-propyl cysteine (SPC) in kidney of diabetic mice were examined. SEC and SPC at 1 and 2 g/L were added to the drinking water for 12 wk. Results showed that diabetic mice with SEC or SPC intake had significantly higher final body weight, lower kidney weight, lower levels of plasma glucose, urinary albumin (UA), and urinary creatinine (UC) (p < 0.05), in which dose-dependent effects were observed in reducing plasma glucose, UA, and UC (p < 0.05). The intake of these compounds significantly and dose-dependently decreased the levels of plasma glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), renal carboxymethyllysine and urinary glycated albumin (p < 0.05). SEC or SPC intake significantly and dose-dependently diminished renal aldose reductase (AR) activity and enhanced glyoxalase I (GLI) activity (p < 0.05); also significantly decreased renal sorbitol and fructose concentrations (p < 0.05). The intake of SEC or SPC significantly lowered renal VEGF level (p < 0.05), and caused dose-dependent downregulation in AR mRNA expression, and upregulation in GLI mRNA expression (p < 0.05). Our present study suggests the supplement of SEC or SPC might be helpful for the prevention or treatment of diabetic kidney diseases via alleviating renal glycative injury.

MeSH terms

  • Albuminuria / prevention & control
  • Animals
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Creatinine / urine
  • Cysteine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cysteine / pharmacology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / physiopathology*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / physiopathology*
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Organ Size / drug effects
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • S-propylcysteine
  • N(6)-carboxymethyllysine
  • Arginine
  • Creatinine
  • S-ethylcysteine
  • pentosidine
  • Lysine
  • Cysteine