We investigated the action of caffeic acid in regulating miR-636 expression level in kidney of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were orally treated with caffeic acid at 40 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, body and kidney weight and blood glucose levels were determined, blood, urine, and kidneys were collected for biochemical and histological examination. Expression levels of miR-636 were determined in liver by qRT-PCR. Induction of diabetic nephropathy by streptozotocin was evidenced by displayed elevated levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, microalbuminuria and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in addition to renal hypotrophy. Caffeic acid (CA) can ameliorate renal damage and significantly decreased the fasting blood glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride in diabetic rats. CA treatment improved histological architecture in the diabetic kidney. CA significantly down regulate miR-636 expression level in the kidney of diabetic rats in comparison to healthy group. Overall, caffeic acid down regulates miR-636 expression level which is involved in development of diabetic nephropathy and might therefore be potential attractive therapeutic agent to pursue in DN.
Keywords: Caffeic acid; Diabetic nephropathy; miRNA.