OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of nitrotyrosine on renal expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN).

METHODSRat DN models established by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were randomly allocated into model group, nitrotyrosine group and ebselen group, with untreated rats as the normal control group. The rats were given the corresponding drugs for 8 weeks, and after the last administration, the 24-h urinary protein level was measured and the kidneys of the rats were harvested for detecting the protein and mRNA expressions of NF-κB, MCP-1 and TGF-β1 with immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. The pathological changes of the kidneys were assessed microscopically.

RESULTSCompared with those in the model group, the 24-h urinary protein level and expressions of NF-κB, MCP-1 and TGF-β1 mRNA and protein in the renal tissues were significantly increased by nitrotyrosine treatment, which also caused worsened renal pathology, while treatment with ebselen significantly ameliorated these changes.

CONCLUSIONNitrotyrosine can up-regulate the mRNA and protein expressions of NF-κB, MCP-1 and TGF-β1 and aggravate the inflammatory reaction in the renal tissue of DN rats to promote the progression of DN.