Objective To investigate the protective effects of angiotensin Ⅱ receptor antagonist losartan on diabetic nephropathy (DN).Methods 37 DN cases complicated by renal insufficiency were divided into two groups which were treated with losartan and enalapril,respectively.Blood pressure,plasma creatinine,blood urea nitrogen (BUN),uricemia,urinary protein and albumin were measured before and at 2,4,8,12 weeks after treatment.Results Losartan and enalapril lowered blood pressure remarkably (P0.05).Losartan decreased uricemia remarkably (P

Objective To investigate the expression of p38 mitogen actirated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in renal fibrosis in diabetic mice. Methods Male homozygous C57 BL/6 mice were divided at random into control group intraperitoneally(i. p.) injected with citrate buffer and diabetes group received 5 consecutive daily intraperitoneal inserum glucose level exceeding 16.7 mmol/L. Mice were killed at 0,4weeks ,8weeks, 12weeks and 16weeks respectively after STZ injected. The kidney tissues were obtained from diabetic and control mice. Serum glucose, extracellular matrix,and 24 h urinary albumin excretion rate(UAE)and the serum creatinine(Scr) were measured. The kidney tissue was used for histological and morphometric studies of glomerular matrix expansion (PAS), and the expression of phosphorylated p38MAPK and TGFβ1 were measured by immunohisteehemical staining. p38MAPK and TGFβ1mRNA were analyzed by reverse transeriptase-PCR. Results The serum level of glucose in diabetic mice increased significantly. Scr and 24 h UAE, and glomerular matrix expansion in diabetic mice were obviously higher than that in control mice. Phosphorylated p38MAPK and TGFβ1 levels were obviously increased in the kidney of diabetic mice compared with those in control mice(P ＜0. 01) ;TGFβ1 expression was positively related to the expression of phosphorylated p38MAPK. Conclusion The overexpression of phosphorylated p38MAPK in kidney shoud play an important role in the development of renal fibrosis associated with diabetic nephropathy in mice.

AIM: To investigate the functional role of TGF-?_1 signal protein Smad2/3 in tubulointerstitial fibrosis associated with unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats. METHODS: The unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was induced by the ligation of left ureter. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after UUO was initiated. TGF?_1 protein, phosphorylated Smad2/3 and interstitial ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) expression were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. TGF-?_1 mRNA in the obstructed kidney was analyzed with in situ hybridration. HE and Masson staining were used for histological and morphometric studies of the pathological change in obstructed kidney. RESULTS: The results showed that upregulation of TGF-?_1 in tubulointerstitium of both cortex and medulla at day 3 (a 3.1 fold increase vs control, P

AIM:To investigate the expression and probable role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase(ERK1/2)in renal fibrosis associated with diabetic in mice.METHODS:Male homozygous C57BL/6 mice were divided at random into control group(intraperitoneally injected with citrate buffer)and diabetes group(received 5 consecutive daily intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin at dose of 50 mg?kg-1?d-1).All mice were followed up for 16 weeks.Diabetes was confirmed by serum glucose levels exceeding 16.7 mmol/L.Mice were killed at 0,4,8,12 and 16 weeks respectively after streptozotocin injection.The kidney tissues were obtained from diabetic and control mice.Serum glucose,kidney weight/body weight(KW/BW),24 h albumin excretion rate(UAE)and the serum creatinine(Scr)were measured.The kidney tissue was used for histological and morphometric studies of glomerular size,glomerular matrix expansion(PAS),and the expression of TGF-?1,phosphorylated ERK1/2 and collagen Ⅲ by immunohistochemical staining.RESULTS:The serum level of glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice increased significantly.The kidney weight/body weight ratio,glomerular volume and glomerular matrix expansion in diabetic mice were obviously higher than those in control mice.Serum creatinine and 24 h albumin excretion rate in diabetic mice increased significantly compared with control mice.TGF-?1,phosphorylated ERK1/2 and collagen Ⅲ levels were obviously increased in the kidney of diabetic mice compared with those in control mice(P