Prednisolone-loaded liposome decreases the accumulation of glomerular extracellular matrix and glomerular injury of immunoglobulin A nephropathy in ddY mice

SUMMARY: Morphometric, immunofluorescent and electron microscopic analyses were performed to determine the glomerular changes of ddY mice after treatment with the prednisolone-loaded liposome (PSL-liposome) in the present study. A morphometric analysis including the extracellular matrix areas (ECMA), number of intraglomerular cell nuclei (NIGCN), and the ratio of glomerular tuft area (GTA) to the whole glomerular area (WGA) (GTA/WGA), or the ratio of glomerular Bowman's space (GBS) to GTA (GBS/GTA) was performed by image analysis using light microscopy. Extracellular matrix case, NIGCN and GTA/WGA of PSL-liposome-treated ddY mice were significantly decreased compared with those of ordinary prednisolone (PSL)-treated and saline control ddY mice. Glomerular Bowman's space/GTA was markedly increased in the PSL-liposome-treated ddY mice. the mean intensity of immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, complement C3 or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) staining in glomeruli of the PSL-liposome treated ddY mice was also significantly decreased compared with those of ordinary PSL-treated and saline control ddY mice. Electron dense deposits in glomeruli were decreased after treatment with PSL-liposome in 61-week-old ddY mice. It appears that PSL-liposome therapy might reduce glomerular expansion, and intraglomerular cell proliferation and infiltration in IgA nephropathy of ddY mice.