Molecules (Nov 2022)

Capsaicin Decreases Kidney Iron Deposits and Increases Hepcidin Levels in Diabetic Rats with Iron Overload: A Preliminary Study

  • Marisa López,
  • Laura Quintero-Macías,
  • Miguel Huerta,
  • Alejandrina Rodríguez-Hernández,
  • Valery Melnikov,
  • Yolitzy Cárdenas,
  • Jaime Alberto Bricio-Barrios,
  • Enrique Sánchez-Pastor,
  • Armando Gamboa-Domínguez,
  • Caridad Leal,
  • Xóchitl Trujillo,
  • Mónica Ríos-Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27227764
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 22
p. 7764

Abstract

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Iron overload (IOL) increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM). Capsaicin (CAP), an agonist of transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 (TRPV1), reduces the effects of IOL. We evaluated the effects of chronic CAP administration on hepcidin expression, kidney iron deposits, and urinary biomarkers in a male Wistar rat model with IOL and DM (DM-IOL). IOL was induced with oral administration of iron for 12 weeks and DM was induced with streptozotocin. Four groups were studied: Healthy, DM, DM-IOL, and DM-IOL + CAP (1 mg·kg−1·day−1 for 12 weeks). Iron deposits were visualized with Perls tissue staining and a colorimetric assay. Serum hepcidin levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Kidney biomarkers were assayed in 24 h urine samples. In the DM-IOL + CAP group, the total area of iron deposits and the total iron content in kidneys were smaller than those observed in both untreated DM groups. CAP administration significantly increased hepcidin levels in the DM-IOL group. Urinary levels of albumin, cystatin C, and beta-2-microglobulin were similar in all three experimental groups. In conclusion, we showed that in a DM-IOL animal model, CAP reduced renal iron deposits and increased the level of circulating hepcidin.

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