Oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetic nephropathy: role of polyphenols

Front Immunol. 2023 Jul 21:14:1185317. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1185317. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) often leads to end-stage renal disease. Oxidative stress demonstrates a crucial act in the onset and progression of DN, which triggers various pathological processes while promoting the activation of inflammation and forming a vicious oxidative stress-inflammation cycle that induces podocyte injury, extracellular matrix accumulation, glomerulosclerosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, renal tubular atrophy, and proteinuria. Conventional treatments for DN have limited efficacy. Polyphenols, as antioxidants, are widely used in DN with multiple targets and fewer adverse effects. This review reveals the oxidative stress and oxidative stress-associated inflammation in DN that led to pathological damage to renal cells, including podocytes, endothelial cells, mesangial cells, and renal tubular epithelial cells. It demonstrates the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties by targeting Nrf2, SIRT1, HMGB1, NF-κB, and NLRP3 of polyphenols, including quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin, and phenolic acid. However, there remains a long way to a comprehensive understanding of molecular mechanisms and applications for the clinical therapy of polyphenols.

Keywords: curcumin; diabetic nephropathy; inflammation; oxidative stress; polyphenols; quercetin; resveratrol.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Diabetes Mellitus*
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / drug therapy
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / etiology
  • Diabetic Nephropathies* / pathology
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Polyphenols / pharmacology
  • Polyphenols / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Polyphenols
  • Antioxidants

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (82074393, 82205094).