Edgeworin Ameliorates Oxidative Stress and Accumulation of ECM Induced by High Glucose in Mesangial cells via Nrf2/TGF-β1 Pathway

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the severe complications of diabetes mellitus and become the major cause of end-stage renal disease. In the discovery of novel therapy targeting DN, phytochemicals play a pivotal role. Edgeworin is a natural dicoumarin with the potential to attenuate DN. To reveal the effects and detailed mechanisms, we have explored edgeworin using human mesangial cells under high glucose. The results showed edgeworin protected mesangial cells against oxidative stress and accumulation of extracelllar matrix induced by high glucose. Further investigations unraveled the protection was closely associated with Nrf2, which is activated in a Keap1-dependent manner. These results can provide evidences for the application of edgeworin in clinic and discovery of novel therapy for DN.