Obesity induced renal inflammation in high-fat-diet obese rats: possible effects of anthocyanin rich fruits.

Excess weight gain related to essential hypertension and diabetes is recognized as a major medical challenge and it is associated with the development of end-stage renal disease such as chronic kidney disease (CKD). Accumulating evidence suggests that obesity contrib-utes to CKD through multiple mechanisms, including hemodynamic alterations, chronic in-ammation, insulin resistance, and lipid accumulation [1]. Increased expres-sion of renal injury markers and pro-in-ammatory fac-tors may be associated with downregulation of dopa-mine D2 receptors. Furthermore, recent !ndings suggest that transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel dys-function has a signi!cant impact on the pathophysiology of various diseases. In this contest, the intake of dietary supplements containing natural compounds can reduce oxidative stress and in-ammatory processes in animal models of obesity [2].The present study evaluated the risk of diet-induced obesity (DIO) in rats, potentially associated with renal damage, oxidative stress, and in-ammatory processes related to the regulation of the dopaminergic system and the interaction with TRP channels. The e.ect of tart cherry supplementation on renal morphological changes in DIO rats was investigated. Di.erent groups of DIO rats were fed with either tart cherry seed powder (DS) or seed powder plus tart cherry juice (DJS). DIO rats were compared with control rats that were fed a standard diet (CHOW).In our model, obesity was associated with renal cor-tical damage, including glomerular sclerosis and tubular atrophy. Analysis of in-ammatory cytokines in DIO rats showed increased expression in glomeruli and the base of proximal and convoluted tubular cells. The expres-sion of D5 receptors and D2-like receptors was altered in DIO rats compared with CHOW. TRPC1 and TRPM2 were upregulated, whereas TRPC6 slightly decreased, in the kidneys of DIO rats. Immunohistochemical analysis