Biochem Cell Biol. 2018 Feb 9. doi: 10.1139/bcb-2017-0230. [Epub ahead of print]

Mesenchymal stem cells pretreated with melatonin ameliorate kidney functions in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy.

Rashed LA¹, Elattar S², Eltablawy N³, Ashour H Ashour⁴, Mohamed L⁵, El-Esawy Y⁶.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Melatonin (MT) pretreated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regenerative therapy, as a new therapeutic target in modifying underlying diabetic nephropathy (DN) pathogenesis in a rat model, and its possible effect on autophagy protein Beclin-1. Forty adult male Wistar albino rats divided into four groups: control, DN, MSCs treated (MSCs) and In-vitro Melatonin (5µM for 24 hours) pre-incubated MSCs treated group (MSCs+MT). MSCs treatment significantly improved the renal functions with amelioration of the measured underlying DN pathogenesis and elevation of Beclin-1 protein levels compared to DN group. In-vitro MSCs pre-pretreatment with Melatonin, enhanced its proliferation and efficiency and so an improvement in the kidney functions with more elevation in superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) and Beclin-1 and more decrease in transforming growth factor (TGF-β) markers in the kidney tissue compared to MSCs group (P<0.05).

IN CONCLUSION:

MSCs represents a promising target in DN management, its effect can be intensified by melatonin pre-incubation. The elevated Beclin-1 levels could be a mediator.