Early treatment with glucocorticoids or cyclophosphamide retains the slit diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin in experimental lupus nephritis

Renal podocytes and their slit diaphragms ensure the integrity of renal basement membrane and prevent urinary protein loss. We have previously reported that decreases of the podocyte slit diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin represent early events in the podocytopathy of lupus nephritis (LN). We asked whether immunosuppressive agents such as glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide may have direct effects on podocytes. We assessed in New Zealand Black/New Zealand White (NZB/W) F1 LN mice glomerular nephrin and podocin expression and localization by the use of Western blot and immunofluorescence; mRNA levels were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and renal histology by light and electron microscopy. Early treatment with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide halted the histologic alterations associated with LN, preserving podocyte foot processes. Nephrin and podocin protein expression significantly increased in both glucocorticoid and cyclophosphamide groups as early as after three months of therapy. Real-time PCR revealed similar enhancement in nephrin and podocin mRNA levels after three to six months of treatment. This study documents that early treatment in experimental LN with glucocorticoids or cyclophosphamide preserves slit diaphragm proteins in podocytes and halts histological changes of the glomeruli, thus raising the possibility of a direct protective effect of these drugs on podocytes.     

Podocyte main slit diaphragm proteins, nephrin and podocin, are affected at early stages of lupus nephritis and correlate with disease histology

Renal podocytes and their slit diaphragms ensure the integrity of the renal basement membrane that forms the barrier to urinary protein loss. A putative disruption of the slit diaphragm and its main protein components, nephrin and podocin, may be implicated in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN). We studied the glomerular protein expression of nephrin and podocin in NZB/W LN mice by Western blot and immunofluorescence; mRNA levels were measured by real-time PCR. Human kidney biopsies of class II (n?=?5), IV (n?=?4), V (n?=?7) LN were evaluated for nephrin expression by immunohistochemistry. Glomerular protein expression of nephrin and podocin were significantly reduced in NZB/W LN, starting from the earlier stages (mild mesangial LN) and becoming pronounced at advanced histological forms (focal and diffuse proliferative LN). Nephrin and podocin mRNA levels were substantially decreased in diffuse proliferative disease. Decreased expression of both proteins correlated with electron microscopy findings of distorted slit diaphragms. In patients with LN, nephrin was decreased particularly in diffuse proliferative LN. The main slit diaphragm proteins, nephrin and podocin, are affected from the earlier stages of LN and their expression correlates with disease histology. Our findings suggest a novel role of podocytes and their structures in immune-mediated nephritis.     

Activation of Nod-like receptor protein 3 inflammasomes turns on podocyte injury and glomerular sclerosis in hyperhomocysteinemia

Inflammasome is a multiprotein complex consisting of Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NALP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and caspase 1 or 5, which functions to switch on the inflammatory process. The present study hypothesized that the formation and activation of NALP3 inflammasomes turn on podocyte injury leading to glomerulosclerosis during hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcys). RT-PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that murine podocytes expressed 3 essential components of the NALP3 inflammasome complex, namely, NALP3, ASC, and caspase 1. Treatment of podocytes with l-homocysteine induced the formation of NALP3 inflammasome complex, an increase in caspase 1 activity, podocyte cytoskeleton rearrangement, and decreased production of vascular endothelial growth factor from podocytes, which were all blocked by silencing the ASC gene or inhibiting caspase 1 activity. In mice with hHcys induced by feeding them a folate-free diet, NALP3 inflammasome formation and activation in glomerular podocytes were detected at an early stage, as shown by confocal microscopy, size exclusion chromatography of the assembled inflammasome complex, and increased interleukin-1β production in glomeruli. Locally silencing the ASC gene in the kidney significantly reduced NALP3 inflammasome formation and interleukin 1β production in glomeruli of mice with hHcys. Pathologically, hHcys-associated albuminuria, foot process effacement of podocytes, loss of podocyte slit diaphragm molecules, and glomerulosclerosis at the late stage were significantly improved by local ASC gene silencing or by caspase 1 inhibition. In conclusion, NALP3 inflammasome formation and activation on stimulation of homocysteine are important molecular mechanisms triggering podocyte injury and ultimately resulting in glomerulosclerosis in hHcys.     

Cell junction-associated proteins IQGAP1, MAGI-2, CASK, spectrins, and alpha-actinin are components of the nephrin multiprotein complex

Nephrin is a cell surface receptor of the Ig superfamily that localizes to slit diaphragms, the specialized junctions between the interdigitating foot processes of the glomerular epithelium (podocytes) in the kidney. Mutations in the NPHS1 gene encoding nephrin lead to proteinuria and congenital nephrotic syndrome, indicating that nephrin is essential for normal glomerular development and function. To identify nephrin-binding proteins, we performed mass spectrometry on proteins obtained from pull-down assays with GST-nephrin cytoplasmic domain. Nephrin specifically pulled down six proteins from glomerular lysates, MAGI-2/S-SCAM (membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted 2/synaptic scaffolding molecule), IQGAP1 (IQ motif-containingGTPase-activatingprotein1),CASK(calcium/calmodulin-dependent serine protein kinase), alpha-actinin, alphaII spectrin, and betaII spectrin. All of these scaffolding proteins are often associated with cell junctions. By immunofluorescence these proteins are expressed in glomerular epithelial cells, where they colocalize with nephrin in the foot processes. During glomerular development, IQGAP1 is expressed in the junctional complexes between the earliest identifiable podocytes, MAGI-2/S-SCAM is first detected in junctional complexes in podocytes after their migration to the base of the cells. Thus, the nephrin-slit diaphragm protein complex contains a group of scaffolding proteins that function to connect junctional membrane proteins to the actin cytoskeleton and signaling cascades. Despite their special morphology and function, there is considerable compositional similarity between the podocyte slit diaphragm and typical junctional complexes of other epithelial cells.     

Nephrin is specifically located at the slit diaphragm of glomerular podocytes

We describe here the size and location of nephrin, the first protein to be identified at the glomerular podocyte slit diaphragm. In Western blots, nephrin antibodies generated against the two terminal extracellular Ig domains of recombinant human nephrin recognized a 180-kDa protein in lysates of human glomeruli and a 150-kDa protein in transfected COS-7 cell lysates. In immunofluorescence, antibodies to this transmembrane protein revealed reactivity in the glomerular basement membrane region, whereas the podocyte cell bodies remained negative. In immunogold-stained thin sections, nephrin label was found at the slit between podocyte foot processes. The congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type (NPHS1), a disease in which the nephrin gene is mutated, is characterized by massive proteinuria already in utero and lack of slit diaphragm and foot processes. These features, together with the now demonstrated localization of nephrin to the slit diaphragm area, suggests an essential role for this protein in the normal glomerular filtration barrier. A zipper-like model for nephrin assembly in the slit diaphragm is discussed, based on the present and previous data.     

CD2-associated protein and glomerular disease

CONTEXT: Proteinuria is a major cause of progression in renal disease. The glomerular ultrafiltration barrier, containing highly differentiated podocytes, normally restricts protein access to the urine. Patients with urinary protein in the nephrotic range (>3.5 g daily) often have effaced podocyte foot-processes. Slit diaphragms span the gaps between foot processes as a barrier to macromolecules. Nephrin and podocin are slit-diaphragm proteins identified in families with congenital nephrotic syndromes. CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) is an adapter protein originally identified as a novel ligand interacting with the T-cell-adhesion protein CD2. CD2AP knockout (-/-) mice develop a congenital nephrotic syndrome with podocyte foot-process effacements and die at 6 weeks of age from renal failure. CD2AP localises to the slit diaphragm and links nephrin and podocin to phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase; this complex has cell-signalling properties. STARTING POINT: The CD2AP +/- heterozygous mice developed by Jeong Kim and colleagues (Science 2003; 300: 1298-300) are haploinsufficient and develop glomerular changes at 9 months of age with a histological pattern similar to that in human focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. These researchers found that 2 of 30 African-American patients with idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis had a CD2AP mutation that ablated expression of one allele. WHERE NEXT? Further studies should address the normal distribution of the CD2AP heterozygous mutation in different ethnic populations, because the association with human idiopathic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis could be accidental. Decreased expression of CD2AP in podocytes of individuals with the CD2AP heterozygous mutation would help to understand how the haploinsufficiency translates into increased susceptibility to renal disease. Transfection of podocytes with mutated CD2AP or study of cultured podocytes from CD2AP +/- mice would provide further insight into whether the nephrin-podocin-CD2AP signal-transduction pathway is altered and leads to increased apoptosis of podocytes. Assuming that a decrease in CD2AP attenuates clearance of glomerular immune complexes, patients with other types of idiopathic glomerulonephritis should also have a CD2AP mutation. However, first studies looking at the most common form of glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, have failed to show decreased renal CD2AP expression.     

艾塞那肽对高糖诱导的小鼠足细胞损伤的保护作用及机制研究

目的探讨艾塞那肽对高糖诱导的小鼠足细胞损伤的作用及相关机制。方法将足细胞系MPC5细胞按照不同葡萄糖培养浓度和干预因素分为以下5组:正糖对照组(5.5 mmol/L葡萄糖,n=3)、甘露醇高渗对照组(5.5 mmol/L葡萄糖+19.5 mmol/L甘露醇,n=3)、高糖组(25.0 mmol/L葡萄糖,n=3)、高糖+艾塞那肽组(25.0 mmol/L葡萄糖+100 nmol/L艾塞那肽,n=3)和高糖+艾塞那肽+LY294002组(25.0 mmol/L葡萄糖+100 nmol/L艾塞那肽+50μmol/L磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶抑制剂LY294002,n=3)。采用原位缺口末端标记法荧光染色观察细胞凋亡,膜联蛋白Ⅴ-异硫氰酸荧光素/碘化丙啶双染法检测细胞凋亡率,Western blot检测细胞内裂孔膜肾病蛋白(nephrin)、磷酸化蛋白激酶B(p-AKT)以及磷酸化Bcl-xL/Bcl-2相关死亡启动子(p-BAD)水平。多组间比较采用单因素方差分析,组间多重比较采用最小显著性差异t检验。结果与正糖对照组和甘露醇高渗对照组比较,高糖组足细胞凋亡率显著增加[分别为(28.60±2.65)%、(4.50±0.75)%和(4.55±0.65)%,t=-19.19、-19.15,均P<0.01],细胞内nephrin蛋白表达降低(分别为0.22±0.03、0.72±0.06和0.73±0.08,t=11.43、11.52,均P<0.01),p-AKT和p-BAD蛋白表达下调(分别为0.14±0.03、0.83±0.06和0.86±0.04,0.16±0.03、0.66±0.06和0.68±0.04,均P<0.01)。与高糖组比较,高糖+艾塞那肽组足细胞凋亡率显著下降,细胞内nephrin表达升高,p-AKT和p-BAD蛋白表达上调(均P<0.01)。而高糖+艾塞那肽+LY294002组较高糖+艾塞那肽组足细胞凋亡率增加,细胞内nephrin蛋白表达降低,p-AKT和p-BAD蛋白表达下调(均P<0.05)。结论艾塞那肽通过上调足细胞中nephrin蛋白表达和减少足细胞凋亡从而保护高糖诱导的足细胞,其机制可能与激活AKT/BAD信号途径有关。     

The role of the type I insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) in glomerular integrity.

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) have been implicated in normal mammalian kidney development. To confirm a role for the IGF system in podocyte and glomerular integrity, we generated a transgenic mouse that expresses a dominant-negative type 1 IGF receptor (IGF-IR) and determined the structural and functional consequences. Using a 4.25kb fragment of the murine nephrin promoter, the dominant-negative construct was expressed exclusively in the kidney, confirmed by Southern blot and RT-PCR analysis. IGF-Ir486(FLAGstop) protein localized specifically to the glomerular podocyte based on FLAG immunohistochemistry and on co-localization with nephrin and podocin. Wild type and transgenic glomeruli expressed both the alpha- and beta-subunits of the endogenous IGF-IR, with normal expression of both nephrin and podocin. Although the animals were viable and phenotypically normal, histological analysis of the kidneys revealed abnormal and small glomeruli with dilated glomerular capillaries and condensed podocyte nuclei, while ultra-structural examination revealed diffuse but segmental podocyte foot process broadening, fusion, and effacement. Explanted glomeruli from transgenic animals demonstrated a significant inhibition of podocyte cell outgrowth when compared to controls. These studies suggest that IGF signaling is essential for maintaining the integrity of the podocyte and that alterations of IGF signaling may play a role in progressive glomerular disease.     

雷公藤甲素治疗db／db糖尿病小鼠的疗效观察

目的:利用db/db小鼠验证雷公藤甲素对糖尿病肾脏损伤的治疗作用,探讨雷公藤甲素防治糖尿病肾病的机制. 方法:9周龄的db/db和db/m小鼠分为五组:(1)db/m正常对照组;(2)dh/dh糖尿病对照组;(3)缬沙坦治疗纽;(4)雷公藤甲素低剂最治疗组;(5)雷公藤甲素高剂繁治疗组.于4周、8周及12周测定各组24h尿白蛋白、血生化和体重.光镜观察肾小球病变,电镜观察足突改变,并作定量分析.免疫病理观察足细胞裂孔膜蛋白nephrin,足细胞损伤标志物desmin,炎症反应标志物单核细胞趋化蛋白1(MCP-1),氧化应激标志物4羟壬烯醛(4-HNE)的表达. 结果:db/db小鼠经雷公藤甲素治疗后蛋白尿下降,肾小球肥大和足细胞损伤减轻,肾组织炎症和氧化应激状态改善,同时高血脂和肥胖减轻.该作用随治疗时间延长,效果更加明显,且高剂量疗效优于低剂量.雷公藤甲素降低蛋白尿、改善肾小球肥大的作用与缬沙坦相似,但降低肾组织炎症和氧化应激的作用雷公藤甲素比缬沙坦更强. 结论:雷公藤甲索能明显降低dh/db小鼠尿蛋白的排泄,减轻肾组织炎症反应,改善肾脏组织病变,对糖尿病肾脏损伤具有显著且更全面的治疗作用.     

Podocyte as the target for aldosterone: roles of oxidative stress and Sgk1

Accumulating evidence suggests that mineralocorticoid receptor blockade effectively reduces proteinuria in hypertensive patients. However, the mechanism of the antiproteinuric effect remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the effects of aldosterone on podocyte, a key player of the glomerular filtration barrier. Uninephrectomized rats were continuously infused with aldosterone and fed a high-salt diet. Aldosterone induced proteinuria progressively, associated with blood pressure elevation. Notably, gene expressions of podocyte-associated molecules nephrin and podocin were markedly decreased in aldosterone-infused rats at 2 weeks, with a gradual decrease thereafter. Immunohistochemical studies and electron microscopy confirmed the podocyte damage. Podocyte injury was accompanied by renal reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activation, increased oxidative stress, and enhanced expression of aldosterone effector kinase Sgk1. Treatment with eplerenone, a selective aldosterone receptor blocker, almost completely prevented podocyte damage and proteinuria, with normalization of elevated reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity. In addition, proteinuria, podocyte damage, and Sgk1 upregulation were significantly alleviated by tempol, a membrane-permeable superoxide dismutase, suggesting the pathogenic role of oxidative stress. Although hydralazine treatment almost normalized blood pressure, it failed to improve proteinuria and podocyte damage. In cultured podocytes with consistent expression of mineralocorticoid receptor, aldosterone stimulated membrane translocation of reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase cytosolic components and oxidative stress generation in podocytes. Furthermore, aldosterone enhanced the expression of Sgk1, which was inhibited by mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist and tempol. In conclusion, podocytes are injured at the early stage in aldosterone-infused rats, resulting in the occurrence of proteinuria. Aldosterone can directly modulate podocyte function, possibly through the induction of oxidative stress and Sgk1.     

HIV-1 Tat reduces nephrin in human podocytes: a potential mechanism for enhanced glomerular permeability in HIV-associated nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether HIV-1 Tat may directly alter glomerular permeability in HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). DESIGN: Heavy proteinuria is a hallmark of HIVAN. The slit diaphragm is the ultimate glomerular filtration barrier critical for maintaining the efficiency of the ultrafiltration unit of the kidney. In this study, we evaluated the direct effect of Tat protein on the permeability of isolated glomeruli and on the expression of nephrin, the main slit diaphragm component, by human cultured podocytes. METHODS: Permeability was studied by measuring the permeability to albumin in isolated rat glomeruli. We also evaluated the expression of nephrin in human cultured podocytes by using immunofluorescence and Western blot. RESULTS: We found that Tat increased albumin permeability in isolated glomeruli, and rapidly induced the redistribution and loss of nephrin in cultured podocytes. Pretreatment of glomeruli and podocytes with blocking antibodies showed that Tat reduced nephrin expression by engaging vascular endothelial growth factor receptors types 2 and 3 and the integrin alphavbeta3. Pre-incubation of podocytes with two platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonists prevented the loss and redistribution of nephrin induced by Tat, suggesting that PAF is an intracellular mediator of Tat action. Tat induced a rapid PAF synthesis by podocytes. When podocytes transfected to overexpress PAF-acetylhydrolase, the main catabolic enzyme of PAF, were stimulated with Tat, the redistribution and loss of nephrin was abrogated. CONCLUSION: The present results define a mechanism by which Tat may reduce nephrin expression in podocytes, thus increasing glomerular permeability. This provides new insights in the understanding of HIVAN pathogenesis.     

Nuclear relocation of the nephrin and CD2AP-binding protein dendrin promotes apoptosis of podocytes

Kidney podocytes and their slit diaphragms (SDs) form the final barrier to urinary protein loss. There is mounting evidence that SD proteins also participate in intracellular signaling pathways. The SD protein nephrin serves as a component of a signaling complex that directly links podocyte junctional integrity to actin cytoskeletal dynamics. Another SD protein, CD2-associated protein (CD2AP), is an adaptor molecule involved in podocyte homeostasis that can repress proapoptotic TGF-beta signaling in podocytes. Here we show that dendrin, a protein originally identified in telencephalic dendrites, is a constituent of the SD complex, where it directly binds to nephrin and CD2AP. In experimental glomerulonephritis, dendrin relocates from the SD to the nucleus of injured podocytes. High-dose, proapoptotic TGF-beta1 directly promotes the nuclear import of dendrin, and nuclear dendrin enhances both staurosporine- and TGF-beta1-mediated apoptosis. In summary, our results identify dendrin as an SD protein with proapoptotic signaling properties that accumulates in the podocyte nucleus in response to glomerular injury and provides a molecular target to tackle proteinuric kidney diseases. Nuclear relocation of dendrin may provide a mechanism whereby changes in SD integrity could translate into alterations of podocyte survival under pathological conditions.     

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B deficiency in podocytes mitigates hyperglycemia-induced renal injury

ObjectiveDiabetic nephropathy is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes, and growing evidence implicates podocyte dysfunction in disease pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) in podocytes to hyperglycemia-induced renal injury.MethodsTo determine the in vivo function of PTP1B in podocytes we generated mice with podocyte-specific PTP1B disruption (hereafter termed pod-PTP1B KO). Kidney functions were determined in control and pod-PTP1B KO mice under normoglycemia and high-fat diet (HFD)- and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemia.ResultsPTP1B expression increased in murine kidneys following HFD and STZ challenges. Under normoglycemia control and pod-PTP1B KO mice exhibited comparable renal functions. However, podocyte PTP1B disruption attenuated hyperglycemia-induced albuminuria and renal injury and preserved glucose control. Also, podocyte PTP1B disruption was accompanied with improved renal insulin signaling and enhanced autophagy with decreased inflammation and fibrosis. Moreover, the beneficial effects of podocyte PTP1B disruption in vivo were recapitulated in E11 murine podocytes with lentiviral-mediated PTP1B knockdown. Reconstitution of PTP1B in knockdown podocytes reversed the enhanced insulin signaling and autophagy suggesting that they were likely a consequence of PTP1B deficiency. Further, pharmacological attenuation of autophagy in PTP1B knockdown podocytes mitigated the protective effects of PTP1B deficiency.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate that podocyte PTP1B deficiency attenuates hyperglycemia-induced renal damage and suggest that PTP1B may present a therapeutic target in renal injury.     

Nephrin expression in the post-natal developing kidney in normotensive and hypertensive rats

Nephrin is a slit diaphragm protein and its expression in the developing kidney is largely unknown. In this study, we explored the expression of nephrin in the developmental kidney in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at different time points, from day 5 after birth to adulthood. Real time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to assess and quantify gene and protein expression of nephrin in the kidney. SHR had hypertension at week 10 and albuminuria at week 20. Nephrin expression in both SHR and WKY increased from day 5 to adulthood. Furthermore, both gene and protein expression of nephrin were significantly lower in SHR after birth when compared to WKY at the same age. These findings suggest that both in normotensive and hypertensive rats, nephrin expression increased from birth to the adult age and that down-regulation of nephrin in SHR evident from the early developmental kidney to adulthood may contribute to the development of albuminuria in adult SHR.     

NEPHRIN EXPRESSION IN THE POST-NATAL DEVELOPING KIDNEY IN NORMOTENSIVE AND HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Nephrin is a slit diaphragm protein and its expression in the developing kidney is largely unknown. In this study, we explored the expression of nephrin in the developmental kidney in spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) and in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats at different time points, from day 5 after birth to adulthood. Real time RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used to assess and quantify gene and protein expression of nephrin in the kidney. SHR had hypertension at week 10 and albuminuria at week 20. Nephrin expression in both SHR and WKY increased from day 5 to adulthood. Furthermore, both gene and protein expression of nephrin were significantly lower in SHR after birth when compared to WKY at the same age. These findings suggest that both in normotensive and hypertensive rats, nephrin expression increased from birth to the adult age and that down-regulation of nephrin in SHR evident from the early developmental kidney to adulthood may contribute to the development of albuminuria in adult SHR.     

辛伐他汀对糖尿病大鼠足细胞损伤保护作用的实验研究

目的探讨辛伐他汀对糖尿病大鼠足细胞损伤的保护作用。方法将糖尿病大鼠模型分三组：正常对照（NC）组、糖尿病未干预（DM）组、辛伐他汀治疗（SVT）组,于第4、8周末检测血肌酐（SCr）、血脂、尿白蛋白排泄率（UAER）,观察肾组织病变并计数足突宽度,免疫组化观察去氧肾上腺素、足细胞裂隙膜蛋白、NF—κB、MCP-1表达,Realtime-PCR检测mRNA表达。结果（1）SCr、UAER：DM组〉NC组,SVT组〈DM组;（2）SVT组肾组织尤其足细胞病变较DM组减轻,足突宽度减低;（3）去氧肾上腺素、足细胞裂隙膜蛋白：DM组〈NC组,SVT组〉DM组;（4）NF-κB、MCP-1：DM组〉NC组,SVT组〈DM组,且与去氧肾上腺素、足细胞裂隙膜蛋白呈负相关（P均〈0．01）。结论辛伐他汀可能通过降低炎症介质表达维持足细胞相关蛋白分子水平,减轻糖尿病大鼠足细胞损伤。     

雷公藤甲素对嘌呤霉素模型足细胞病变的影响

目的：研究雷公藤甲素对非免疫因素介导的、单纯足细胞病变模型——嘌呤霉素氨基核苷（PAN）肾病模型的疗效及其对足细胞病变的影响。方法：采用PAN单次颈静脉注射法建立PAN肾病模型。大鼠分为正常对照组，模型组，雷公藤甲素预防组和治疗组。分别在1天、3天、5天、10天、14天和21天收集血尿标本，并处死大鼠留取肾组织标本。检测24h尿蛋白排泄量、血生化指标，行肾组织光镜和电镜观察肾小球病变和足突超微结构。采用定量学方法测定足突宽度。免疫荧光染色观察足细胞裂孔膜分子Nephrin和Podocin表达和分布变化。结果：雷公藤甲素无论是预防还是治疗性用药均能明显改善PAN肾病大鼠的肾病综合征状况，明显减少尿蛋白，加快血清白蛋白回升和血脂水平恢复。与此同时，雷公藤甲素预防组和治疗组大鼠在各观察点足突融合程度和范围均比PAN肾病大鼠明显减轻，至第14天仅见少数足突融合，第21天足突形态已基本恢复正常。雷公藤甲素预防性和治疗性用药均能够增加足细胞裂孔膜分子Nephrin和Podocin表达，促进其分布异常的修复。在第10天，Nephrin和Podocin不仅表达较PAN肾病大鼠明显增多，而且大部分血管袢已开始呈现连续的线状分布，以Podocin更为明显；两者的表达和分布在第14天已基本恢复，至第21天已完全恢复正常。结论：雷公藤甲素对PAN导致的足细胞损伤模型具有明显的预防和治疗作用，表现为减少蛋白尿，改善足突融合，恢复足细胞相关蛋白的表达及其分布，逆转足细胞病变。     

Urinary podocyte-associated mRNA profile in Egyptian patients with diabetic nephropathy

IntroductionPodocyte injury and subsequent excretion in urine play a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Quantification of messenger RNA expression in urinary sediment by real-time PCR is emerging as a noninvasive method of screening DN-associated biomarkers. We aimed to study the expression of podocyte-associated genes in urinary sediment and their relation to disease severity in type 2 diabetic Egyptian patients with diabetic nephropathy.Methodology: Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were recruited in addition to twenty non diabetic healthy volunteers. Relative mRNA abundance of nephrin, podocalyxin, and podocin were quantified, and correlations between target mRNAs and clinical parameters were examined.ResultsThe urinary mRNA levels of all genes studied were significantly higher in diabetics compared with controls (p < 0.001), and mRNA levels increased with DN progression. Urinary mRNA levels of all target genes positively correlated with both UAE and HbA_1c. The expression of nephrin, podocalyxin, and podocin mRNA correlated with serum creatinine {(r = 0.397, p value = 0.002), (r = 0.431, p value = 0.001), (r = 0.433, p value = 0.001) respectively}.ConclusionThe urinary mRNA profiles of nephrin, podocalyxin, and podocin were found to increase with the progression of DN, which suggested that quantification of podocyte-associated molecules will be useful biomarkers of DN.