Autoimmune hepatitis （AIH） is a chronic inflammatory liver disease mediated by T lymphocytes， and it can progress to liver cirrhosis or even liver failure without timely intervention. As a natural flavonoid compound， naringenin （NAR） shows a potential value in the prevention and treatment of AIH through multiple mechanisms such as remodeling immune homeostasis， targeted inhibition of inflammatory pathways， antioxidation， regulating hepatocyte metabolism and apoptosis， improving mitochondrial function， and regulating intestinal flora. However， the clinical translation and application of NAR is limited by issues such as low bioavailability and insufficient efficiency of liver-targeted delivery. This article systematically reviews the mechanism of action of NAR in the prevention and treatment of AIH， explores the potential signaling pathways involved in this process， and analyzes existing challenges in its translation and application and future research directions， so as to provide a reference for further research on NAR and its application in the prevention and treatment of AIH.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of prenatal screening and genetic analysis in the diagnosis of fetal aberrant right subclavian artery(ARSA).Methods:The ultrasonographic features of ARSA fetu-ses detected by prenatal ultrasound at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from October 2017 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The fetuses were divided into isolated ARSA group and complicated ARSA group.Their genetic analysis results and pregnancy outcome were analyzed.Results:Among 30,260 preg-nant women,185 fetuses were diagnosed with ARSA by prenatal ultrasound screening,with an incidence of 0.6％;5 fetuses(2.6％)were diagnosed by ultrasound in the first trimester,and the remaining were diagnosed by fetal grade Ⅲ structural ultrasound examination at 20～24 weeks' gestation.Among them,158 fetuses(85.4％)had isolated ARSA,and 27(14.6％)had complicated ARSA.Among fetuses with ARSA and other structural abnormal-ities,cardiovascular system accounted for the highest proportion(44.4％),followed by nervous system(22.2％)and urinary system(22.2％).Through genetic analysis,8.3％(4/48)fetuses with isolated ARSA and 40.0％(4/10)fetuses with complicated ARSA were found to have chromosomal numerical or structural abnormalities,with statis-tically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.024).Genetic analysis was completed in 48 isolated ARSA,and the positive rate of pathogenic copy number variants(CNV)was 4.2％(2/48),which was not signifi-cantly different from the pathogenic CNV incidence rate of 0.4％(1/239)in elderly pregnant cases during the same period(P=0.074).The Down syndrome positive likelihood ratio(LR+)for isolated ARSA was 2.5 and the Down syndrome LR+for complicated ARSA was 49.6.Conclusions:Complicated ARSA is often associated with cardiovascular abnormalities and is more likely to develop Down syndrome than isolated ARSA.Although the inci-dence of pCNV in isolated ARSA is slightly higher than the natural incidence,the correlation between pCNV and i-solated ARSA has not been clearly determined by the current sample size.

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of prenatal screening and genetic analysis in the diagnosis of fetal aberrant right subclavian artery(ARSA).Methods:The ultrasonographic features of ARSA fetu-ses detected by prenatal ultrasound at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital from October 2017 to March 2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The fetuses were divided into isolated ARSA group and complicated ARSA group.Their genetic analysis results and pregnancy outcome were analyzed.Results:Among 30,260 preg-nant women,185 fetuses were diagnosed with ARSA by prenatal ultrasound screening,with an incidence of 0.6％;5 fetuses(2.6％)were diagnosed by ultrasound in the first trimester,and the remaining were diagnosed by fetal grade Ⅲ structural ultrasound examination at 20～24 weeks' gestation.Among them,158 fetuses(85.4％)had isolated ARSA,and 27(14.6％)had complicated ARSA.Among fetuses with ARSA and other structural abnormal-ities,cardiovascular system accounted for the highest proportion(44.4％),followed by nervous system(22.2％)and urinary system(22.2％).Through genetic analysis,8.3％(4/48)fetuses with isolated ARSA and 40.0％(4/10)fetuses with complicated ARSA were found to have chromosomal numerical or structural abnormalities,with statis-tically significant difference between the two groups(P=0.024).Genetic analysis was completed in 48 isolated ARSA,and the positive rate of pathogenic copy number variants(CNV)was 4.2％(2/48),which was not signifi-cantly different from the pathogenic CNV incidence rate of 0.4％(1/239)in elderly pregnant cases during the same period(P=0.074).The Down syndrome positive likelihood ratio(LR+)for isolated ARSA was 2.5 and the Down syndrome LR+for complicated ARSA was 49.6.Conclusions:Complicated ARSA is often associated with cardiovascular abnormalities and is more likely to develop Down syndrome than isolated ARSA.Although the inci-dence of pCNV in isolated ARSA is slightly higher than the natural incidence,the correlation between pCNV and i-solated ARSA has not been clearly determined by the current sample size.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and its related factors of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS).Methods:It was a single-center retrospective study. The clinical data of FRNS/SDNS children first treated with RTX in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1, 2016 to September 1, 2023 were collected. The number of relapse within 1 year before and after RTX treatment, the time to first relapse after RTX treatment, and the time to B-cell reconstitution were analyzed. At the first treatment, a single dose of RTX was given at 375 mg/m 2, with a maximum dose of 500 mg, once a week, for 1 to 4 doses. The count of CD19 + lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the children was continuously monitored. If B-cell reconstruction was performed, the decision on whether to proceed to the next course of RTX treatment was made based on clinical manifestations. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze relapse-free survival rate after receiving RTX. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the related factors of relapse after RTX treatment. Results:A total of 98 FRNS/SDNS children receiving RTX treatment were enrolled, including 75 males (76.5%). The age at onset was 4.0 (1.9, 7.1) years and age of receiving RTX was 11.3 (8.5, 13.5) years. There were 90 children (91.8%) achieving complete remission, while 8 patients (8.2%) did not respond to RTX treatment, and 3 patients (3.1%) progressed to end-stage kidney disease after receiving RTX. The relapse-free survival rates at 6 months and 1 year after RTX treatment were 83.3% (75/90) and 57.9% (22/38), respectively. The frequency of relapse 1 year after RTX treatment decreased compared to 1 year before RTX treatment ( Z=-7.398, P<0.001). Compared with children without relapse during the period of B-cell depletion, relapsed children had a higher number of relapse within one year after RTX treatment ( Z=5.246, P<0.001). The time to first relapse after RTX treatment was 8.3 (4.6, 13.9) months in 51 relapse patients. Compared with children receiving 1 dose of RTX in the first course, those receiving 2 or more doses had a longer time to the first relapse ( Z=2.983, P=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in time to the first relapse between children who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after RTX treatment and those who didn't ( P>0.05). The reconstruction time of B cells after the first course of RTX was 6.9 (5.3, 9.0) months. Compared to children receiving one dose of RTX in the first course, those receiving two or more doses had a longer B-cell reconstitution time ( Z=2.739, P=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in B-cell reconstitution time between children who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after RTX treatment and those who didn't ( P>0.05). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that recurrence after calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) treatment before RTX treatment and the number of recurrence in one year before RTX treatment were correlated factors of recurrence after RTX treatment (both P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that recurrence after CNI treatment before RTX treatment was an independent correlated factor of relapse after RTX therapy ( HR=3.496, 95% CI 1.245-9.818, P=0.018). Infusion reactions occurred in 10 patients (10.2%) and infections were observed in 24 patients (24.5%) during B cell depletion. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions:RTX is well tolerated and effective in treating FRNS/SDNS. Recurrence after CNI treatment before RTX treatment may be an independent related factor of relapse after RTX treatment.

AIM:To investigate the potential effect of Dabuyuan Jian(DBYJ)on peroxisome proliferator-acti-vated receptor γ(PPARγ)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway and related inflammatory proteins in mice with mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and to explore the mechanism of DBYJ in improving the learning and memory ability of MCI mice.METHODS:Forty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups,including negative control(NC)group,D-galactose(D-Gal)group,D-Gal+DBYJ group,D-Gal+GW9662(PPARγ inhibitor)group and D-Gal+GW9662+DBYJ group,with 8 mice each.The mice in NC group were subcutaneously injected with 0.9%saline solution on the back of the neck for 8 weeks,while those in the remaining 4 groups were subcutaneously injected with D-Gal(100 mg·kg-1·d-1)on the back of the neck for 8 weeks to establish the MCI model.From week 5 to week 8,the mice in D-Gal+GW9662 and D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 groups were intraperitoneally injected with GW9662(1 mg·kg-1·d-1).From week 5,the mice in D-Gal+DBYJ and D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 groups were treated with DBYJ(13.2 g/kg)by gavage,while those in the re-maining 3 groups were administered an equal volume of purified water for 4 weeks.The Morris water maze(including posi-tioning navigation experiment and space exploration experiment)was used to assess the learning and memory ability of the mice.The structural integrity of the hippocampus of the mice was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Nissl staining was used to evaluate damage to hippocampal neurons in mice,and Western blot was applied to detect the protein levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),PPARγ,P65 and phosphorylated P65(p-P65)in the hippocampus of the mice.RESULTS:Compared with NC group,the escape latency of the mice in D-Gal+D-Gal and D-Gal+GW9662 groups significantly increased(P＜0.01),while the number of platform crossing and the duration of staying in the target quadrant within 60 s significantly decreased(P＜0.01).The number of neurons in the CA3 region remarkably decreased(P＜0.01),and pyramidal cell disarrangement and neuronal shrinkage were observed.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and p-P65 were up-regulated,while the expression of PPARγ was down-regulated(P＜0.05).Compared with D-Gal group,the escape latency of the mice in D-Gal+DBYJ group significantly decreased(P＜0.01),while the number of plat-form crossing and the duration of staying in the target quadrant within 60 s remarkably increased(P＜0.01).The number of neurons in the CA3 region increased(P＜0.01),the pyramidal cells were more neatly arranged,and the cytoarchitec-ture was intact.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and p-P65 were down-regulated,while the expression of PPARγ was up-regu-lated(P＜0.05).Compared with D-Gal+GW9662 group,significantly decreased escape latency was observed in D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 group(P＜0.01),and the number of platform crossing and the duration of staying in the target quadrant within 60 s remarkably increased(P＜0.05).The number of neurons in the CA3 region increased(P＜0.01),the pyrami-dal cells were arranged more neatly,and the cytoarchitecture was relatively intact.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and p-P65 were down-regulated,while the expression of PPARγ was up-regulated(P＜0.05).The effects shown in D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 group were inferior to those in D-Gal+DBYJ group,indicating that the therapeutic effect of DBYJ was inhibited after the addition of GW9662.CONCLUSION:Dabuyuan Jian improves the learning and memory ability of MCI mice,and the mechanism may be related to the expression of key proteins in the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Liraglutide in rats with diabetic kidney disease(DKD)by regulating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)ferroptosis signaling pathway.Methods Twelve male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group,DKD group,and Liraglutide treatment(Lir)group,with 4 rats in each group.The 24 hUAlb,TC,TG,LDL-C,serum creatinine(Scr),BUN,ferrous ion(Fe2+),the activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected in each group.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE),periodic acid-Schiff(PAS),and periodic acid-silver methenamine-Masson(PASM-Masson)staining were used to observe the pathological changes of the kidneys.Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the localization and expression of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the renal tissue.The protein expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the NC group,the levels of 24 hUAlb,Scr,BUN,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,ROS,and Fe2+were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while the expressions of GSH-Px,Nrf2,and GPX4 proteins were decreased in the DKD group(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,the levels of 24 hUAlb,BUN,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,ROS,and Fe2+were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the expressions of GSH-Px,Nrf2,and GPX4 proteins were increased in the Lir group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Liraglutide may exert a protective effect in DKD by upregulating the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis.

AIM:To investigate the potential effect of Dabuyuan Jian(DBYJ)on peroxisome proliferator-acti-vated receptor γ(PPARγ)/nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway and related inflammatory proteins in mice with mild cognitive impairment(MCI),and to explore the mechanism of DBYJ in improving the learning and memory ability of MCI mice.METHODS:Forty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into 5 groups,including negative control(NC)group,D-galactose(D-Gal)group,D-Gal+DBYJ group,D-Gal+GW9662(PPARγ inhibitor)group and D-Gal+GW9662+DBYJ group,with 8 mice each.The mice in NC group were subcutaneously injected with 0.9%saline solution on the back of the neck for 8 weeks,while those in the remaining 4 groups were subcutaneously injected with D-Gal(100 mg·kg-1·d-1)on the back of the neck for 8 weeks to establish the MCI model.From week 5 to week 8,the mice in D-Gal+GW9662 and D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 groups were intraperitoneally injected with GW9662(1 mg·kg-1·d-1).From week 5,the mice in D-Gal+DBYJ and D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 groups were treated with DBYJ(13.2 g/kg)by gavage,while those in the re-maining 3 groups were administered an equal volume of purified water for 4 weeks.The Morris water maze(including posi-tioning navigation experiment and space exploration experiment)was used to assess the learning and memory ability of the mice.The structural integrity of the hippocampus of the mice was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining.Nissl staining was used to evaluate damage to hippocampal neurons in mice,and Western blot was applied to detect the protein levels of interleukin-1β(IL-1β),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),PPARγ,P65 and phosphorylated P65(p-P65)in the hippocampus of the mice.RESULTS:Compared with NC group,the escape latency of the mice in D-Gal+D-Gal and D-Gal+GW9662 groups significantly increased(P＜0.01),while the number of platform crossing and the duration of staying in the target quadrant within 60 s significantly decreased(P＜0.01).The number of neurons in the CA3 region remarkably decreased(P＜0.01),and pyramidal cell disarrangement and neuronal shrinkage were observed.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and p-P65 were up-regulated,while the expression of PPARγ was down-regulated(P＜0.05).Compared with D-Gal group,the escape latency of the mice in D-Gal+DBYJ group significantly decreased(P＜0.01),while the number of plat-form crossing and the duration of staying in the target quadrant within 60 s remarkably increased(P＜0.01).The number of neurons in the CA3 region increased(P＜0.01),the pyramidal cells were more neatly arranged,and the cytoarchitec-ture was intact.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and p-P65 were down-regulated,while the expression of PPARγ was up-regu-lated(P＜0.05).Compared with D-Gal+GW9662 group,significantly decreased escape latency was observed in D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 group(P＜0.01),and the number of platform crossing and the duration of staying in the target quadrant within 60 s remarkably increased(P＜0.05).The number of neurons in the CA3 region increased(P＜0.01),the pyrami-dal cells were arranged more neatly,and the cytoarchitecture was relatively intact.The levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and p-P65 were down-regulated,while the expression of PPARγ was up-regulated(P＜0.05).The effects shown in D-Gal+DBYJ+GW9662 group were inferior to those in D-Gal+DBYJ group,indicating that the therapeutic effect of DBYJ was inhibited after the addition of GW9662.CONCLUSION:Dabuyuan Jian improves the learning and memory ability of MCI mice,and the mechanism may be related to the expression of key proteins in the PPARγ/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of Liraglutide in rats with diabetic kidney disease(DKD)by regulating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)/glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)ferroptosis signaling pathway.Methods Twelve male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into normal control(NC)group,DKD group,and Liraglutide treatment(Lir)group,with 4 rats in each group.The 24 hUAlb,TC,TG,LDL-C,serum creatinine(Scr),BUN,ferrous ion(Fe2+),the activity of glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),and malondialdehyde(MDA)were detected in each group.Hematoxylin and eosin(HE),periodic acid-Schiff(PAS),and periodic acid-silver methenamine-Masson(PASM-Masson)staining were used to observe the pathological changes of the kidneys.Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the localization and expression of reactive oxygen species(ROS)in the renal tissue.The protein expressions of Nrf2 and GPX4 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the NC group,the levels of 24 hUAlb,Scr,BUN,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,ROS,and Fe2+were increased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),while the expressions of GSH-Px,Nrf2,and GPX4 proteins were decreased in the DKD group(P＜0.01).Compared with the DKD group,the levels of 24 hUAlb,BUN,TC,TG,LDL-C,MDA,ROS,and Fe2+were decreased(P＜0.05 or P＜0.01),and the expressions of GSH-Px,Nrf2,and GPX4 proteins were increased in the Lir group(P＜0.01).Conclusions Liraglutide may exert a protective effect in DKD by upregulating the Nrf2/GPX4 signaling pathway and inhibiting ferroptosis.

Objective:To explore the efficacy and its related factors of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of children with frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS).Methods:It was a single-center retrospective study. The clinical data of FRNS/SDNS children first treated with RTX in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 1, 2016 to September 1, 2023 were collected. The number of relapse within 1 year before and after RTX treatment, the time to first relapse after RTX treatment, and the time to B-cell reconstitution were analyzed. At the first treatment, a single dose of RTX was given at 375 mg/m 2, with a maximum dose of 500 mg, once a week, for 1 to 4 doses. The count of CD19 + lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of the children was continuously monitored. If B-cell reconstruction was performed, the decision on whether to proceed to the next course of RTX treatment was made based on clinical manifestations. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze relapse-free survival rate after receiving RTX. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze the related factors of relapse after RTX treatment. Results:A total of 98 FRNS/SDNS children receiving RTX treatment were enrolled, including 75 males (76.5%). The age at onset was 4.0 (1.9, 7.1) years and age of receiving RTX was 11.3 (8.5, 13.5) years. There were 90 children (91.8%) achieving complete remission, while 8 patients (8.2%) did not respond to RTX treatment, and 3 patients (3.1%) progressed to end-stage kidney disease after receiving RTX. The relapse-free survival rates at 6 months and 1 year after RTX treatment were 83.3% (75/90) and 57.9% (22/38), respectively. The frequency of relapse 1 year after RTX treatment decreased compared to 1 year before RTX treatment ( Z=-7.398, P<0.001). Compared with children without relapse during the period of B-cell depletion, relapsed children had a higher number of relapse within one year after RTX treatment ( Z=5.246, P<0.001). The time to first relapse after RTX treatment was 8.3 (4.6, 13.9) months in 51 relapse patients. Compared with children receiving 1 dose of RTX in the first course, those receiving 2 or more doses had a longer time to the first relapse ( Z=2.983, P=0.003). There was no statistically significant difference in time to the first relapse between children who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after RTX treatment and those who didn't ( P>0.05). The reconstruction time of B cells after the first course of RTX was 6.9 (5.3, 9.0) months. Compared to children receiving one dose of RTX in the first course, those receiving two or more doses had a longer B-cell reconstitution time ( Z=2.739, P=0.006). There was no statistically significant difference in B-cell reconstitution time between children who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after RTX treatment and those who didn't ( P>0.05). Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that recurrence after calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) treatment before RTX treatment and the number of recurrence in one year before RTX treatment were correlated factors of recurrence after RTX treatment (both P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that recurrence after CNI treatment before RTX treatment was an independent correlated factor of relapse after RTX therapy ( HR=3.496, 95% CI 1.245-9.818, P=0.018). Infusion reactions occurred in 10 patients (10.2%) and infections were observed in 24 patients (24.5%) during B cell depletion. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions:RTX is well tolerated and effective in treating FRNS/SDNS. Recurrence after CNI treatment before RTX treatment may be an independent related factor of relapse after RTX treatment.

Objective:To investigate the role of complement C3a receptor in the diabetic nephropathy pathogenesis of db/db mice, and to provide a new target for prevention and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.Methods:Twelve 8-week-old male mice with type 2 diabetes mellitus (db/db mice) and 6 wild-type (db/m) mice were reared in the special pathogen free environment. The mice were grouped into db/m group, db/db group and C3a receptor antagonist group, with 6 mice in each group. db/db model mice were intraperitoneally injected with C3a receptor antagonist (SB290157, 10 mg/kg) once every two days for 8 weeks in C3a receptor antagonist group. Blood and urine samples were collected, and body weight of mice, fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urinary microalbumin/urinary creatinine and urinary N-acetyl-β- D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were detected. Renal tissues were collected, and HE, PAS and Masson stainings were used to observe the pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect the protein expression levels of C3 and C3a receptor. Western blotting was used to analyze the protein expression levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), vimentin and E-cadherin in renal tissues. Immunofluorescence was used to analyze the protein expression levels and distribution of α-SMA, ZO-1 and Kim-1, and immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the protein expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptotic cells in renal tissues. Results:Compared with db/m group, body weight, fasting blood glucose, urinary microalbumin/urinary creatinine and urinary NAG in db/db group were significantly higher, while these indicators in C3a receptor antagonist group were slightly lower than those in db/db group (all P<0.01). There were no significant differences in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen among the three groups (all P>0.01). Compared with db/m group, db/db group had glomerular hypertrophy, necrosis and exfoliation of renal tubular epithelial cells, and dilation of renal tubules, and C3 and C3a receptor protein expression levels were higher (both P<0.01). Compared with db/db group, C3a receptor antagonist group had less glomerular lesions, mild necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells and less tubular dilation. Compared with db/m group, the protein expression levels of Kim-1, IL-1 and TNF-α in kidney tissues of db/db group were significantly higher, while Kim-1, IL-1 and TNF-α in C3a receptor antagonist group were significantly lower than those in db/db group (all P<0.01). Compared with db/m group, the protein expression levels of α-SMA and vimentin of renal tubular epithelial cells in db/db group were significantly higher, while the protein expression levels of ZO-1 and E-cadherin were significantly lower (all P<0.01). Compared with db/db group, the protein expression levels of α-SMA and vimentin of renal tubular epithelial cells in C3a receptor antagonist group were significantly lower, and the protein expression levels of ZO-1 and E-cadherin were significantly higher (all P<0.01). Compared with db/m group, the number of apoptotic cells of kidney tissues in db/db group was increased, while the number of apoptotic cells in C3a receptor antagonist group was reduced compared with db/db group. Conclusions:The expression levels of C3 and C3a receptor of kidney tissues in db/db mice are significantly increased. Antagonistic C3a receptor can reduce the body weight, blood glucose, urinary microalbumin/urinary creatinine and urinary NAG, alleviate renal pathological injury, inhibit renal tissue inflammation, apoptosis and renal tubule epithelial-mesenchymal transition in db/db mice.