The efficacy of an edible bird's nest in the restoration and enhancement of kidney glomeruli and peritubular capillaries in induced diabetic rats by increasing TGF-β and CD 31

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is primarily caused by hyperglycemia-induced angiogenesis and fibrosis. It has been reported that edible bird's nest (EDB), a traditional Chinese medicine, may prevent insulin resistance. However, its influence on diabetic nephropathy remains unclear. This research investigated the impact of EDB on diabetic nephropathy of glomeruli and peritubular capillaries in induced diabetic rat models. Methods: Wistar rats were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to induce diabetes mellitus (DM). Diabetic rodents were treated with EDB at doses of 75 mg/kg (EDB75), 150 mg/kg (EDB150), and glibenclamide (4 mg/kg BW) over an eight-week duration. Results: The EDB 150 intervention group exhibited a decrease in fasting blood glucose levels. A histological study concluded that EDB reduced DN by reducing collagen fibers in the glomerulus while thickening the renal tubular wall. According to immunohistochemistry, EDB alleviates aberrant angiogenesis and fibrosis by decreasing the expression of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (CD31) in endothelial cells. EDB also transforms growth factor beta (TGF-β) in glomerular and peritubular capillaries. TEM micrographs thicken the peritubular capillary and proximal tubule wall. Furthermore, the renal capillaries increased in diameter and wall thickness. Conclusions: The current study demonstrated the potential of EDB to reduce diabetic complications. It also indicated that edible bird's nests are a potential medicinal herb for treating diabetes and kidney complications. Novelty of the study: This study uniquely investigates the effect of edible bird's nest (EDB) on diabetic nephropathy in rat models, demonstrating its potential to reduce hyperglycemia, mitigate glomerular collagen accumulation, improve renal tubular wall thickening, and modulate aberrant angiogenesis or fibrosis by decreasing CD31 and TGF- β expression in renal tissues. These findings support the use of EDB among individuals with diabetic kidney damage. Keywords: Diabetes, kidney, Edible bird’s nest, CD31, TGF-β, rat, Kidney glomeruli, Peritubular capillaries