Ameliorative effects of histidine on oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and renal histological alterations in streptozotocin/nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE(S): The present study sought to evaluate the beneficial effects of histidine (His) on oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), renal histological alterations and anti-oxidant enzymes gene expressions in type 2 diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Streptozotocin/nicotinamide (STZ/NA) induced diabetic rats were used as an animal model of type 2 diabetes. One group of rats received daily His (1000 mg/l) in drinking water for 8 weeks, whereas other groups (control and untreated diabetic groups) received only water. Different parameters such as glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, lipid profile, cardiac risk ratios, renal functional markers, and oxidative stress were determined in all groups. Moreover, renal histological alterations, mRNA expressions of anti-oxidant enzymes, and TNF-α were evaluated in the rats. RESULTS: His exhibited a protective effect on glucose, insulin, insulin resistance, lipid profile, cardiac risk ratios, renal functional markers, oxidative stress, and TNF-α. Furthermore, His restored the renal histological alterations and normalized the augmented mRNA expressions of renal anti-oxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD)) and TNF-α. CONCLUSION: His could ameliorate diabetes complications related to oxidative stress, inflammation, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and nephropathy. Hence, the use of this amino acid is recommended for diabetic patients in order to reduce diabetes complications.