Sulforaphane protects against skeletal muscle dysfunction in spontaneous type 2 diabetic db/db mice

Skeletal muscle diseases have become to be the most common complication in patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM). However, the effective therapies against skeletal muscle diseases are not yet available. Sulforaphane (SFN) is an organic isothiocyanate found in cruciferous plants. Our aim was to explore whether SFN could attenuate the skeletal muscle diseases in spontaneous type 2 diabetic db/db mice.

The db/m and littermate db/db mice were treated with SFN or dimethyl sulfoxide. The grip strength of mice was measured by a grasping forcing machine. The electron transmission microscopy was used to perform the skeletal muscle. The western blot was used to detect the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase 1 (Nrf2/HO-1) signal pathway related proteins, and inflammatory and apoptotic associated proteins. The mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative relative genes were detected by RT-QPCR.

We found that SFN could significantly increase the grip strength of the db/db mice. The lean mass and gastrocnemius mass were increased in the db/db mice after administration with SFN. Additionally, the db/db mice restored the skeletal muscle fiber organization after SFN treatment. Mechanistically, SFN could activate the Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway, and downregulate the expression of inflammatory and apoptotic associated proteins. Furthermore, SFN could also regulate the mRNA levels of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative related genes.

Our results demonstrated that SFN can protect against skeletal muscle diseases in db/db type 2 diabetic mice and provide a potential drug to prevent skeletal muscle dysfunction in T2DM patients.