Saikosaponin-d protects renal tubular epithelial cell against high glucose induced injury through modulation of SIRT3.

Saikosaponin-d (Ssd) is one of the major pharmacologically active molecules present in Bupleurum falcatum L, a medical herb against inflammatory diseases in the traditional Chinese medicine. In the current study, we investigated the protective activity of Ssd on diabetic nephropathy along with the underlying mechanisms using renal tubular epithelial cell line (NRK-52E). Our study showed that high glucose stimulation significantly increased NRK-52E cell proliferation. Ssd administration dramatically inhibited high glucose-induced proliferation and DNA synthesis in NRK-52E cell. In addition, high glucose treatment resulted in oxidative stress as shown by increased production of ROS, higher concentration of MDA, and decreased activity of SOD. However, incubation with Ssd reversed such changes in NRK-52E cells. On the molecular level, Ssd also increased the mRNA levels of IDH2 and MnSOD. Moreover, Ssd-treated NRK-52E cells displayed a dramatic enhancement in SIRT3 expression both at mRNA and protein levels. Down-regulation of SIRT3 abolished the protective effects of Ssd on NRK-52E cells. These findings demonstrated that Ssd protected renal tubular epithelial cell against high glucose induced injury via upregulation of SIRT3.