Mycophenolate mofetil ameliorates diabetic nephropathy through epithelial mesenchymal transition in rats.

Mycophenolate mofetil ameliorates diabetic nephropathy through epithelial mesenchymal transition in rats.
Mol Med Rep. 2015 Jun 15;
Authors: Xiao X, Wang J, Chang X, Zhen J, Zhou G, Hu Z
Abstract
Recent studies in animal models have revealed that mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has certain protective effects against experimental diabetic nephropathy. The present study therefore aimed to investigate the hypothesis that diabetic nephropathy may be ameliorated by mycophenolate mofetil and benazepril treatment alone or in combination, and identify the potential underlying mechanisms in a rat model. Diabetes was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Rats were subsequently treated with benazepril, MMF or a combination of the two drugs, and blood glucose, normalized kidney weight, urine protein and serum creatinine were determined. The pathological changes in renal tissue were also observed. In addition, indices of epithelial mesenchymal transition, including α‑smooth muscle actin (α‑SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β1 expression, were examined. Normalized kidney weight, urine protein and serum creatinine levels were significantly improved in the diabetic rats treated with benazepril or mycophenolate mofetil, compared with those of rats in the untreated diabetic group. Pathological changes in the kidney were detected concurrently with increasing kidney weight and urinary albumin excretion, wi...

Source: Molecular Medicine Reports - June 19, 2015 Category: Molecular Biology Tags: Mol Med Rep Source Type: research