Nanoceria suppresses multiple low doses of streptozotocin-induced Type 1 diabetes by inhibition of Nrf2/NF-kappa B pathway and reduction of apoptosis

Aim: The present study was designed to probe the antidiabetic effects of nanoceria (NC) in Type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Materials & methods: NC was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform IR, powder x-ray diffraction and zeta sizer. Multiple low doses of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, five consecutive days) induced Type 1 diabetic Swiss mice were treated with NC at two doses (0.2 and 2 mg/kg, ip.). Results: NC treatment significantly reduced glucose levels and diabetogenesis to 50% (4/8 animals) at 0.2 mg/kg and 37.5% (3/8 animals) at 2.0 mg/kg doses. Cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha; p < 0.048 at 2 mg/kg) and p65-NF-kappa B expression were diminished by NC treatment whereas the Nrf2 expression was enhanced by NC intervention indicating the role of modulation of NF-kappa B/Nrf2 pathway. NC exhibited promising superoxide dismutase 1 mimetic and anti-apoptotic activity. Conclusion: Considered together, our data establishes the antidiabetic potential of NC which may become a novel strategy to combat T1DM in the near future.