High-Fat-Diet-Induced Kidney Injury in Rats: The Role of Tart Cherry Supplementation

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Nutritional Science
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Obesity-induced kidney damage involves oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis.
• Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) ion channel dysfunction contributes to kidney pathophysiology.
• Dietary interventions are explored for managing obesity-related organ damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) on kidney morphology and protein expression in diet-induced obesity (DIO) rat models.
• To evaluate tart cherry's impact on pro-inflammatory cytokines and TRP channel expression in obese kidneys.

Main Methods:

• Diet-induced obesity (DIO) in rats, supplemented with tart cherry seed powder (DS) or seed powder plus juice (DJS).
• Histological staining, immunohistochemical assays, and Western blot analysis were employed.
• Assessment of renal expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), TRP canonical 1 (TRPC1), and TRP melastatin 2 (TRPM2).

Main Results:

• Tart cherry supplementation significantly reduced renal expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in obese rats.
• TRP channels TRPC1 and TRPM2 were upregulated in obese rats but downregulated following tart cherry intake.
• Tart cherry reduced protein oxidation and inflammatory markers in the kidneys of DIO rats.

Conclusions:

• Tart cherry supplementation demonstrates a protective effect against high-fat diet-induced renal damage.
• Modulation of TRP channels (TRPC1, TRPM2) by tart cherry offers potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers for kidney disease.
• These findings highlight tart cherry as a potential dietary strategy to mitigate obesity-related kidney inflammation and fibrosis.