Prebiotic prevents impaired kidney and renal Oat3 functions in obese rats

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Obesity is a global health concern linked to kidney dysfunction.
• Prebiotics, like xylooligosaccharide (XOS), offer potential health benefits.
• Kidney dysfunction in obesity involves podocyte injury and impaired organic anion transporter 3 (Oat3) function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of xylooligosaccharide (XOS) on renal function and Oat3 in obese rats.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms, including oxidative stress and apoptosis pathways.

Main Methods:

• Male Wistar rats were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, followed by XOS supplementation (1000 mg/day) for another 12 weeks.
• Evaluated obesity, insulin resistance, renal function markers (microalbuminuria, creatinine clearance), and Oat3 function.
• Assessed oxidative stress markers (MDA, AT1R, NOX4, 4-HNE, PKCα, ERK1/2), Nrf2-Keap1 pathway, antioxidant enzymes (SOD2, GCLC), and renal apoptosis.

Main Results:

• High-fat diet induced obesity, insulin resistance, podocyte injury, and impaired Oat3 function.
• XOS treatment significantly improved renal function, attenuated oxidative stress, and reduced renal apoptosis.
• XOS modulated the AT1R-PKCα-NOXs pathway and improved the Nrf2-Keap1/SOD2/GCLC antioxidant defense system.

Conclusions:

• Xylooligosaccharide (XOS) ameliorates kidney dysfunction in obese, insulin-resistant rats.
• XOS restores renal and Oat3 function by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis.
• These protective effects are mediated through the modulation of the AT1R-PKCα-NOXs pathway and enhancement of antioxidant defenses.