Dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist treatment reduces biomarkers associated with kidney fibrosis in diabetic rats

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Melander, Simone Anna
  • Alexandra Louise Møller
  • Khaled Elhady Mohamed
  • Daniel Guldager Kring Rasmussen
  • Federica Genovese
  • Morten Asser Karsdal
  • Kim Henriksen
  • Anna Thorsø Larsen

Dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonists (DACRAs) are effective treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). They provide beneficial effects on body weight, glucose control, and insulin action. However, whether DACRAs protect against diabetes-related kidney damage remains unknown. We characterize the potential of long-acting DACRAs (KBP-A, Key Bioscience Peptide-A) as a treatment for T2D-related pathological alterations of the kidney extracellular matrix (ECM) in Zucker diabetic fatty rats (ZDF). We examined levels of endotrophin (profibrotic signaling molecule reflecting collagen type VI formation) and tumstatin (matrikine derived from collagen type IVα3) in serum and evaluated kidney morphology and collagen deposition in the kidneys. We included a study in obese Sprague-Dawley rats to further investigate the impact of KBP-A on ECM biomarkers. In ZDF vehicles, levels of endotrophin and tumstatin increased, suggesting disease progression along with an increase in blood glucose levels. These rats also displayed damage to their kidneys, which was evident from the presence of collagen formation in the medullary region of the kidney. Interestingly, KBP-A treatment attenuated these increases, resulting in significantly lower levels of endotrophin and tumstatin than the vehicle. Levels of endotrophin and tumstatin were unchanged in obese Sprague-Dawley rats, supporting the relation to diabetes-related kidney complications. Furthermore, KBP-A treatment normalized collagen deposition in the kidney while improving glucose control. These studies confirm the beneficial effects of DACRAs on biomarkers associated with kidney fibrosis. Moreover, these antifibrotic effects are likely associated with improved glucose control, highlighting KBP-A as a promising treatment of T2D and its related late complications.NEW & NOTEWORTHY These studies describe the beneficial effects of using a dual amylin and calcitonin receptor agonist (DACRA) for diabetes-related kidney complications. DACRA treatment reduced levels of serological biomarkers associated with kidney fibrosis. These reductions were further reflected by reduced collagen expression in diabetic kidneys. In general, these results validate the use of serological biomarkers while demonstrating the potential effect of DACRAs in treating diabetes-related long-term complications.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican journal of physiology. Endocrinology and metabolism
Volume325
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)E529-E539
ISSN0193-1849
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

    Research areas

  • DACRA, endotrophin, kidney fibrosis, tumstastin, type 2 diabetes

ID: 372517378