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Lycopene-Loaded Bilosomes Ameliorate High-Fat Diet-Induced Chronic Nephritis in Mice through the TLR4/MyD88
Chang Liu1, Yu Liu2, Ciwan Wang1
1State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, No.1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi 214122, China.
Abstract:
Chronic kidney disease caused by a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic syndrome has received widespread attention. Lycopene has a wide range of biological activities and can improve a variety of chronic diseases through anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, HFD-fed mice were used as a metabolic syndrome model to evaluate the protective effect of lycopene in a sustained-release vehicle (bilosomes) in the small intestine against renal injury and to determine whether the TLR4/MyD88 pathway and related metabolic pathways are involved in this process. The results showed that lycopene bilosomes alleviated HFD-induced kidney damage, as evidenced by lower serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid levels. Histopathology studies showed that lycopene bilosomes attenuated HFD-induced tubular cell and glomerular injury. In addition, Elisa, RT-PCR, and Western blotting results showed that lycopene bilosomes also reduced the expression of inflammatory factors such as TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB, TNF-a, and IL-6 in mouse kidneys. The mechanism was to attenuate renal inflammatory response by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88 inflammatory pathway. These findings suggested that lycopene can alleviate nephritis and metabolic disorders caused by HFD, inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88 inflammatory pathway and its downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines and further regulating the vitamin K metabolism, beta-alanine metabolism, and glutathione metabolism pathways to relieve chronic nephritis.
Insights
Lycopene bilosomes protect against high-fat diet-induced kidney damage by reducing inflammation. This study shows lycopene targets the toll-like receptor 4/MyD88 pathway to alleviate chronic kidney disease.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Metabolic Syndrome Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- High-fat diets (HFD) induce metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Lycopene exhibits anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for chronic diseases.
- Novel delivery systems are needed to enhance lycopene's therapeutic efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the protective effects of lycopene in bilosomes against HFD-induced renal injury.
- To investigate the involvement of the toll-like receptor 4/MyD88 (TLR4/MyD88) pathway and metabolic pathways in lycopene's action.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a HFD-induced metabolic syndrome mouse model.
- Administered lycopene encapsulated in bilosomes (a sustained-release vehicle).
- Assessed renal function via serum markers, histopathology, and molecular analyses (Elisa, RT-PCR, Western blotting).
Main Results:
- Lycopene bilosomes significantly reduced serum urea nitrogen, creatinine, and uric acid levels.
- Histopathology revealed attenuated tubular and glomerular injury in HFD-fed mice treated with lycopene bilosomes.
- Reduced expression of inflammatory markers (TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB, TNF-a, IL-6) in kidney tissue was observed.
Conclusions:
- Lycopene bilosomes effectively alleviate HFD-induced kidney damage and metabolic disorders.
- The protective mechanism involves inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88 inflammatory pathway and downstream cytokines.
- Lycopene also modulates vitamin K, beta-alanine, and glutathione metabolism to relieve chronic nephritis.
