OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of in vitro cultured calculus bovis (ICCB) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) and its mechanism. METHODS: A CIRI rat model and a cell model were induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in Sprague Dawley rats and oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) in BV2 cells, respectively. The CIRI rat model was evaluated using the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), brain water content, and cerebral infarction volume after 1.5 h of ischemia followed by 72 h of reperfusion. Histopathological changes in the cortex and hippocampal CA1 region were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Microglial polarization and NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein (NLRP) 3 inflammasome expression in the cortex were examined by immunofluorescence. BV2 cell viability was measured via MTT assay after treatment with ICCB and Nigericin. The expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1 proteins and inflammatory cytokines were detected with Western blotting in OGD/R treated BV2 cells (0.5 h OGD+24 h reperfusion) and in cells pretreated with Nigericin for 24 h. RESULTS: ICCB treatment significantly improved neurological function, reduced cerebral infarct volume and brain water content, and mitigated pathological damage in the cortical and hippocampal CA1 regions of rats subjected to CIRI (all P<0.05). ICCB promoted the transition of cortical microglia from M1 to M2 phenotypes and suppressed NLRP3 activation in microglial cells (all P<0.01). ICCB significantly down-regulated the expression of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 proteins, and reduced the secretion of IL-18 and IL-1β in BV2 cells of OGD/R model (all P<0.01). In addition, Nigericin significantly reversed the salvage effect of ICCB on model cells (both P<0.01) and the modulation of inflammatory cytokines (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS ICCB exerts a protective effect against CIRI by mitigating neuroinflammation, through the reduction of M1 microglial polarization, promotion of M2 conversion, and suppression of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 signaling pathway.
Animals ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control* ; Microglia/metabolism* ; Rats ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein ; Brain Ischemia/metabolism* ; Male

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of Scleromitrion diffusum on gastric mucosal epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rats with gastric precancerous lesion. METHODS: Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group (n=11), model control group (n=13), Scleromitrion diffusum (SD) group (n=13) and vitase group (n=13). Gastric precancerous lesion animal model was prepared by 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine complex polyfactor method, and the drugs were administrated by gavage once a day for 6 weeks. The pathological changes of gastric mucosa were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining, the expression of EMT marker proteins were detected with immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the model control group, the gastric mucosal injury was significantly attenuated in the Scleromitrion diffusum group, the mucosal tissue structure gradually recovered, the saccular expansion area was reduced, and the inflammatory infiltration was ameliorated. The expression of epithelial cadherin was higher, and the expression of neural cadherin and vimentin in the Scleromitrion diffusum group were lower than those of model control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Scleromitrion diffusum can ameliorate gastric mucosal injury in rats with gastric precancerous lesion by reversing the EMT.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/drug effects* ; Precancerous Conditions/metabolism* ; Gastric Mucosa/metabolism* ; Stomach Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Male ; Cadherins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of Shenge powder (SGP) on myocardial fibrosis in rats with heart failure after myocardial infarction and its relation with lysyl oxidase like protein 2 (LOXL2)/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/IL-11 signaling pathway. METHODS: Seventy-two SPF male SD rats were divided into blank control group, model control group, SGP small dose group, SGP large dose group, positive control group, SGP large dose+LOXL2 activator group, with 12 rats in each group. Except for the blank control group, post-myocardial infarction heart failure was induced by coronary constriction. Corresponding treatments were given immediately after successful modeling, once a day for 4 weeks. Left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in rats were detected by color Doppler ultrasound imaging. Levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in serum were analyzed by ELISA method. Myocardial collagen volume fraction (CVF) was evaluated by Masson staining. Expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in myocardial tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in myocardial tissue were detected by qRT-PCR. Expression of LOXL2, TGF-β1, and IL-11 proteins in myocardial tissue were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the LVFS and LVEF of the model control group decreased, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β elevated, and the CVF value, the expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in myocardial tissue, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA, and LOXL2, TGF-β1, IL-11 proteins increased (all P<0.05). Compared with the model control group, the LVFS and LVEF of SGP small dose group, SGP large dose group and positive control group increased, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β decreased, and the CVF value, the expressions of collagen Ⅰ and α-SMA in myocardial tissue, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 mRNA, and LOXL2, TGF-β1, IL-11 proteins decreased (all P<0.05); while LOXL2 activator reversed the improvement effect of high-dose SGP on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure rats after myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS Shenge powder may inhibit myocardial fibrosis in heart failure rats after myocardial infarction by inhibiting the LOXL2/TGF-β1/IL-11 pathway.
Animals ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Myocardial Infarction/complications* ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Rats ; Heart Failure/pathology* ; Myocardium/metabolism* ; Fibrosis ; Amino Acid Oxidoreductases/metabolism* ; Interleukin-11/metabolism* ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1/metabolism* ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism*

BACKGROUND: In response to growing concerns about the health effects of quasi-millimeter waves (qMMW) used in 5th-generation wireless systems, conservative whole-body exposure thresholds based on indirect evidence have been proposed. The guidelines define a whole-body average specific absorption rate (WBA-SAR) of 4 W/kg which causes a 1 °C increase in core temperature, as the operational threshold for adverse health effects. To address the lack of direct evidence, we recently reported that a 30-minute exposure to qMMW at 4.6 W/kg resulted in a 1 °C increase in rat core temperature. Here, we further analyzed the near-threshold stress response for the first time, using biological samples from the aforementioned and additional experiments. METHODS: A total of 59 young Sprague-Dawley rats (240-322 g) were exposed to 28 GHz for 40 minutes at WBA-SARs of 0, 3.7, and 7.2 W/kg, under normal (22.5 °C, 45-55% humidity), and heat (32 °C, 70% humidity) conditions. Rats were restrained in acrylic holders for dose control. We repeatedly measured serum and urinary biomarkers of stress response, aggregated the data, and analyzed them using a single statistical mixed model to subtract the effects of sham exposure and between-subject variation. RESULTS: Sham exposure induced stress responses, suggesting an effect of restraint. After the subtraction of the sham exposure effect, 28 GHz appeared to induce stress responses as evidenced by elevated serum-free corticosterone 1 or 3 days after the exposure, which was more evident in animals with a change in rectal temperature exceeding 1 °C. Urinary-free catecholamines demonstrated an inhibitory property of 28 GHz frequency exposure on the stress response as evidenced by noradrenaline on the day of exposure. Heat exposure enhanced this effect, suggesting a possible role of noradrenaline in heat dissipation by promoting cutaneous blood flow, a notion supported by the correlation between noradrenaline levels and tail surface temperature, a critical organ for heat dissipation. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to demonstrate that qMMW whole-body exposure can alter the stress response as indicated by corticosterone and noradrenaline at near-threshold levels. Our findings may provide insight into the biological basis of the whole-body exposure thresholds in the international guidelines.
Animals ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Male ; Restraint, Physical ; Stress, Physiological/radiation effects* ; Corticosterone/blood* ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Microwaves/adverse effects*

BACKGROUND: Mitochondria, which harbor their own genome (mtDNA), have attracted attention due to the potential of mtDNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) as an indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction. Although mtDNA-CN has been proposed as a simple and accessible biomarker for metabolic disorders such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, the underlying mechanisms and the causal relationship remain insufficiently elucidated. In this investigation, we combined longitudinal epidemiological data, animal studies, and in vitro assays to elucidate the potential causal relationship between reduced mtDNA-CN and the development of steatotic liver disease (SLD). METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal study using data from a health examination cohort initiated in 1981 in Yakumo, Hokkaido, Japan. Data from examinations performed in 2015 and 2022 were analyzed, focusing on 76 subjects without SLD at baseline (2015) to assess the association between baseline mtDNA-CN and subsequent risk of SLD development. In addition, 28-day-old SD rats were fed ad libitum on a 45% high-fat diet and dissected at 2 and 8 weeks of age. Blood and liver mtDNA-CN were measured and compared at each feeding period. Additionally, in vitro experiments were performed using HepG2 cells treated with mitochondrial function inhibitors to induce mtDNA-CN depletion and to examine its impact on intracellular lipid accumulation. RESULTS: Epidemiological analysis showed that the subjects with low mtDNA-CN had a significantly higher odds ratio for developing SLD compared to high (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 4.93 [1.08-22.50]). Analysis of the animal model showed that 8 weeks of high-fat diet led to the development of fatty liver and a significant decrease in mtDNA-CN. A further 2 weeks of high-fat diet consumption resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic mtDNA-CN, despite the absence of fatty liver development, and a similar trend was observed for blood. Complementary in vitro experiments revealed that pharmacologically induced mitochondrial dysfunction led to a significant reduction in mtDNA-CN and was associated with increases in intracellular lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that reduced mtDNA-CN may contribute causally to SLD development and could serve as a convenient, noninvasive biomarker for early detection and risk assessment.
Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/genetics* ; Humans ; Male ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Fatty Liver/blood* ; Rats ; Middle Aged ; Longitudinal Studies ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Adult ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Biomarkers/blood* ; Hep G2 Cells ; Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and possible regulatory mechanism of miR-34a in the lung tissue of neonatal rat model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) induced by hyperoxia. METHODS: In the study, 80 newborn SD rats were randomly divided into hyperoxia group (FiO₂=60%) and air group (FiO₂=21%) within 2 hours after birth, 40 rats per group. Lung tissue samples of the SD rats in each group were extracted on the 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st days after birth, and the pathological changes of lung tissue were observed under light microscope after HE staining. The number of radial alveolar counts (RAC) and the mean alveolar diameter (MAD) and the thickness of alveolar septal thickness (AST) were measured to evaluate the development of alveoli. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-34a, angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and tyrosine kinase receptor-2 (Tie-2) in lung tissue of rats in hyperoxia group and air group at different time points. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the proteins expression of Ang-1 and Tie-2 in the lung tissues of the two groups at different time points. RESULTS: The weight of rats in the hyperoxia group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after birth was significantly lower than that in the air group (P all < 0.05). With the prolongation of oxygen exposure, the number of alveoli decreased, the volume increased, the structure simplified, the alveolar cavity enlarged obviously and the alveolar septum thickened in the hyperoxia group. On the 7th, 14th and 21st days after birth, the RAC in the hyperoxia group was significantly lower than that in the air group (P all < 0.05). Compared with the air group, MAD and AST increased significantly on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after birth in the hyperoxia group, and the difference was statistically significant (P all < 0.05). The expression level of miR-34a in lung tissue of hyperoxia group was significantly higher than that of air group on the 7th, 14th and 21st days after birth, and the difference was statistically significant (P all < 0.05). Compared with the air group at the same time point, the expression levels of Ang-1 and Tie-2 mRNA and protein in the hyperoxia group were lower than those in the air group on the 14th and 21st days after birth (P all < 0.05). CONCLUSION The new BPD model of newborn SD rats can be successfully established by continuous exposure to 60% hyperoxia. The expression of miR-34a was up-regulated in the lung tissue of the new BPD model of neonatal rats. MiR-34a may play an important role in the occurrence and development of BPD by regulating Ang-1/Tie-2 signal pathway.
Animals ; MicroRNAs/metabolism* ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia/genetics* ; Hyperoxia/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Animals, Newborn ; Rats ; Angiopoietin-1/genetics* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Receptor, TIE-2/genetics* ; Lung/pathology* ; Male

OBJECTIVE: To observe the dynamic changes of microvascular injury and repair in the penumbra of traumatic brain injury (TBI) rats with effective cerebral perfusion microvascular imaging using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). METHODS: Transparent closed cranial windows were placed in craniotomy rats after TBI caused by weight drop. All the rats in TBI group and control group underwent head MRI examination on the first postoperative day, and the changes of cerebral cortical microvessel density were measured by OCTA through cranial windows on d0, d2, d4, d6, and d8. On the second day after the operation, the same number of rats in the two groups were selected to complete the immunohistochemical staining of brain tissue with pimonidazole, an indicator of hypoxia. RESULTS: MRI T2W1 and immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that edema and hypoxia in the traumatic brain tissue extended deeply throughout the entire cortex. OCTA showed that the cortical surface veins of the rats in both groups were significantly dilated and tortuous after operation, and recovered to the postoperative day level on d8. The effective perfusion microvessel density of the rats in both groups gradually recovered after a temporary decrease, and the TBI group decreased from 39.38%±4.48% on d0 to 27.84%±6.01% on d2, which was significantly lower than that on d0, d6, and d8 (P < 0.05). The highest value was 61.71%±7.69% on d8, which was significantly higher than that on d0, d2, and d4 (P < 0.05). The control group decreased from 44.59%±7.78% on d0 to 36.69%±5.49% on d2, which was significantly lower than that on d0, d6, and d8 (P < 0.05). The highest value was 51.92%±5.96% on d8, which was significantly higher than that on d2, and d4 (P < 0.05). Comparing the two groups, the effective perfusion microvessel density in the TBI group was significantly lower than that in the control group on d2 (P=0.021), and significantly higher than that in the control group on d8 (P=0.030). CONCLUSION OCTA can be used as a method of imaging and measurement of effective perfusion microvessels in the injured cerebral cortex of TBI rats. After TBI, the effective perfusion microvessel density in the wound penumbra gradually recovered after decreasing, and increased significantly on d8.
Animals ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/physiopathology* ; Rats ; Tomography, Optical Coherence/methods* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Microvessels/pathology* ; Microvascular Density ; Cerebral Cortex/blood supply* ; Cerebrovascular Circulation

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the biocompatibility of porous WE43 magnesium alloy scaffolds manufactured by 3D printing technology and to observe its effect in treating femoral defects in New Zealand white rabbits. METHODS: In vitro cytotoxicity test was performed using bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from Sprague Dawley (S-D) rats. According to the different culture media, the cells were divided into 100% extract group, 50% extract group, 10% extract group and control group. After culturing for 1, 3 and 7 days, the cell activity of each group was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). In the in vivo experiment, 3.0-3.5 kg New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Experimental group, bone cement group and blank group, with 9 rabbits in each group. Each rabbit underwent surgery on the left lateral femoral condyle, and a bone defect with a diameter of 5 mm and a depth of 6 mm was created using a bone drill. The experimental group was implanted with WE43 magnesium alloy scaffolds, the bone cement group was implanted with calcium sulfate bone cement, and the blank group was not implanted. Then 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery, 3 rabbits in each group were euthanized by carbon dioxide anesthesia, and the femur and important internal organs were sampled. Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) scanning was performed on the left lateral femoral condyle. Sections of important internal organs were prepared and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE). Hard tissue sections were made from the left lateral femoral condyle and stained with methylene blue acid fuchsin and observed under a microscope. RESULTS: In the cytotoxicity test, the cell survival rate in the 100% extract group was higher than that in the control group (140.56% vs. 100.00%, P < 0.05) on 1 day of culture; there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in cell survival rate among the groups on 3 days of culture; the cell survival rate in the 100% extract group was lower than that in the control group (68.64% vs. 100.00%, P < 0.05) on 7 days of culture. Micro-CT scanning in the in vivo experiment found that most of the scaffolds in the experimental group had been degraded in 4 weeks, with very few high-density scaffolds remaining. In 12 weeks, there was no obvious stent outline. In 4 weeks, a certain amount of gas was generated around the WE43 magnesium alloy scaffold, and the gas was significantly reduced from 8 to 12 weeks. Hard tissue sections showed that a certain amount of extracellular matrix and osteoid were generated around the scaffolds in the experimental group in 4 weeks. In the bone cement group, most of the calcium sulfate bone cement had been degraded. In 8 weeks, the osteoid around the scaffold and its degradation products in the experimental group increased significantly. In 12 weeks, new bone was in contact with the scaffold around the scaffold in the experimental group. There was less new bone in the bone cement group and the blank group. CONCLUSION The porous WE43 magnesium alloy scaffold fabricated by 3D printing process has good biocompatibility and good osteogenic properties, and has the potential to become a new material for repairing bone defects.
Animals ; Rabbits ; Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Alloys/chemistry* ; Tissue Scaffolds/chemistry* ; Magnesium/chemistry* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Biocompatible Materials ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells/cytology* ; Femur/surgery* ; Rats ; Absorbable Implants ; Male ; Bone Regeneration ; Tissue Engineering/methods* ; Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of aquaporin 5 (AQP5) on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88)/nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in Sjögren syndrome (SS) rats. METHODS: The SS gene expression data sets GSE406611 and GSE84844 were extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the AQP5 mRNA expression was analyzed by R software. The rat SS model was constructed. The successfully modeled rats were divided into SS group, SS+NC group, and SS+pc group, 10 rats in each group; and 10 rats were set as Normal group. The rats in the SS+NC group were injected with 10 μg of rno-pcDNA3.1-AQP5-NC at the submandibular gland, subcutaneously every day for 28 days. The rats in the SS+pc group were injected with 10 μg of rno-pcDNA3.1-AQP5 at the submandibular gland, subcutaneously every day for 28 days. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was used to detect the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the serum. High-throughput sequencing was used to identify the target genes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of AQP5, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the rat submandibular gland tissue. RESULTS: In the SS dataset GSE406611 and GSE84844, the mRNA expression of AQP5 in SS was significantly reduced. Compared with the Normal group, the content of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum, the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the SS group were significantly increased, the mRNA and protein expressions of AQP5 were significantly decreased. After overexpression of AQP5, the content of TNF-α and IL-1β in the serum, the mRNA and protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB in the SS+pc group were significantly decreased, the mRNA and protein expressions of AQP5 were significantly increased. The differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The expression of AQP5 is involved in the progression of SS. Increasing the expression of AQP5 can significantly inhibit inflammatory stress and reduce the pathological damage of submandibular gland tissue. This may be related to the inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB conduction.
Animals ; Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics* ; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88/genetics* ; Aquaporin 5/metabolism* ; Sjogren's Syndrome/genetics* ; Signal Transduction ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Interleukin-1beta/metabolism* ; Female

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on podocyte injury of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and reveal its potential mechanism. METHODS: In in vitro experiment, podocytes were divided into 4 groups, normal, high glucose (HG), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE-1) α activator (HG+thapsigargin 1 µmol/L), and IRE-1α inhibitor (HG+STF-083010, 20 µmol/L) groups. Additionally, podocytes were divided into 4 groups, including normal, HG, AS-IV (HG+AS-IV 20 µmol/L), and IRE-1α inhibitor (HG+STF-083010, 20 µmol/L) groups, respectively. After 24 h treatment, the morphology of podocytes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was observed by electron microscopy. The expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and IRE-1α were detected by cellular immunofluorescence. In in vivo experiment, DN rat model was established via a consecutive 3-day intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) injections. A total of 40 rats were assigned into the normal, DN, AS-IV [AS-IV 40 mg/(kg·d)], and IRE-1α inhibitor [STF-083010, 10 mg/(kg·d)] groups (n=10), respectively. The general condition, 24-h urine volume, random blood glucose, urinary protein excretion rate (UAER), urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) levels of rats were measured after 8 weeks of intervention. Pathological changes in the renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of GRP78, IRE-1α, nuclear factor kappa Bp65 (NF-κBp65), interleukin (IL)-1β, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, gasdermin D-N (GSDMD-N), and nephrin at the mRNA and protein levels in vivo and in vitro, respectively. RESULTS: Cytoplasmic vacuolation and ER swelling were observed in the HG and IRE-1α activator groups. Podocyte morphology and ER expansion were improved in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups compared with HG group. Cellular immunofluorescence showed that compared with the normal group, the fluorescence intensity of GRP78 and IRE-1α in the HG and IRE-1α activator groups were significantly increased whereas decreased in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein expressions of GRP78, IRE-1α, NF-κ Bp65, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N in the HG group was increased (P<0.05). Compared with HG group, the expression of above indices was decreased in the AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups, and the expression in the IRE-1α activator group was increased (P<0.05). The expression of nephrin was decreased in the HG group, and increased in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups (P<0.05). The in vivo experiment results revealed that compared to the normal group, the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, BUN, blood creatinine and urinary protein in the DN group were higher (P<0.05). Compared with DN group, the above indices in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups were decreased (P<0.05). HE staining revealed glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial widening and mesangial cell proliferation in the renal tissue of the DN group. Compared with the DN group, the above pathological changes in renal tissue of AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups were alleviated. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot results of GRP78, IRE-1α, NF-κ Bp65, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were consistent with immunofluorescence analysis. CONCLUSION AS-IV could reduce ERS and inflammation, improve podocyte pyroptosis, thus exerting a podocyte-protective effect in DN, through regulating IRE-1α/NF-κ B/NLRP3 signaling pathway.
Podocytes/metabolism* ; Animals ; Diabetic Nephropathies/metabolism* ; Saponins/therapeutic use* ; Triterpenes/therapeutic use* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism* ; Male ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism* ; Endoribonucleases/metabolism* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP ; Rats ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/complications* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Multienzyme Complexes