Tabersonine attenuates obesity-induced renal injury via inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammation.

Obesity-induced metabolic disorders can cause chronic inflammation in the whole body, activating the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway and inducing apoptosis. Therefore, anti-inflammatory strategies may be effective in preventing obesity-related renal injury. Tabersonine (Tab) has been used pharmacologically to alleviate inflammation-related symptoms. This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of Tab on obesity-related renal injury and explored the pharmacological mechanism. Tab (20 mg/kg) relieved HFD-induced renal structural disorder and alleviated renal functional decline in mice, including improvement of renal tissue fibrosis, reducing renal cell apoptosis and inflammation in renal tissues. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that Tab inhibited the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro, thereby improving the renal tissue lesions in the mice with obesity-related renal injury. In both the obese mouse model and the mouse glomerular mesangial cell model, the natural compound Tab ameliorated HFD- and saturated fatty acid-induced renal cell injury by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Our data suggest that Tab may become a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related renal injury.