Enteropeptidase inhibition improves kidney function in a rat model of diabetic kidney disease.

Jun Sugama, Yuko Katayama, Yusuke Moritoh, Masanori Watanabe

Diabetes, obesity & metabolism 2021 Jan

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To examine the effects of an enteropeptidase inhibitor, SCO-792, on kidney function in rats. The pharmacological effects of SCO-792 were evaluated in Wistar fatty (WF) rats, a rat model of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Oral administration of SCO-792 increased faecal protein content and improved glycaemic control in WF rats. SCO-792 elicited a rapid decrease in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). SCO-792 also normalized glomerular hyperfiltration and decreased fibrosis, inflammation and tubular injury markers in the kidneys. However, pioglitazone-induced glycaemic improvement had no effect on kidney variables. Dietary supplementation of amino acids (AAs), which bypass the action of enteropeptidase inhibition, mitigated the effect of SCO-792 on UACR reduction, suggesting a pivotal role for enteropeptidase. Furthermore, autophagy activity in the glomerulus, which is impaired in DKD, was elevated in SCO-792-treated rats. Finally, a therapeutically additive effect on UACR reduction was observed with a combination of SCO-792 with irbesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker. This study is the first to demonstrate that enteropeptidase inhibition is effective in improving disease conditions in DKD. SCO-792-induced therapeutic efficacy is likely to be independent of glycaemic control and mediated by the regulation of AAs and autophagy. Taken together with a combination effect of irbesartan, SCO-792 may be a novel therapeutic option for patients with DKD. © 2020 The Authors. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Citation

Jun Sugama, Yuko Katayama, Yusuke Moritoh, Masanori Watanabe. Enteropeptidase inhibition improves kidney function in a rat model of diabetic kidney disease. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism. 2021 Jan;23(1):86-96