Fluorofenidone reduces renal fibrosis in diabetic kidney disease mice

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Objective To investigate the effects of fluorofenidone (AKF-PD) on diabetic kidney disease in db/db mice and its possible mechanisms. Methods (1) Fifty-six mice aged 8 weeks (half male and half female), including 42 db/db mice and 14 wild-type mice were studied. Forty-two db/db mice randomly were divided into model group (mock-treated diabetic db/db mice), AKF-PD (250 mg·kg-1·d-1) treatment group and losartan (20 mg·kg-1·d-1) treatment group. Wild-type mice and model mice were treated with vehicle (0.5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose), while the treatment groups received either AKF-PD or losartan. After 18 weeks, the blood glucose and urinary albumin were measured, the pathological changes of kidney were observed by PAS staining. The protein expressions of type Ⅳ collagen and fibronectin (FN) in kidney tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. (2) Mouse glomerular mesangial cells (MES-13 cells) were divided into six groups: normal glucose group (5.5 mmol/L glucose), hypertonic group (5.5 mmol/L glucose+19.5 mmol/L mannitol), high glucose group (25.0 mmol/L glucose), AKF-PD group (25.0 mmol/L glucose+400 mg/L AKF-PD) and losartan group (25.0 mmol/L glucose+2 μmol/L losartan). After 72 h treatment, the expressions of type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅳ collagen and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) mRNA were detected by real-time PCR, and the content of TGF-β1 protein in the culture supernatant was detected by ELISA. Results (1) Compared with the wild type mice, model mice had increased weight, blood glucose and glomerulosclerosis index (all P<0.01), accompanied with heavy albuminuria, glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial area expansion and deposition of collagen type Ⅳ and FN (all P<0.01). Compared with model mice, in AKF-PD and losartan groups 24 h urinary albumin and glomerulosclerosis index decreased (all P<0.01), glomerular hypertrophy and mesangial area expansion alleviated, and the protein expressions of collagen type Ⅳ and FN were inhibited (all P<0.01). (2) Compared with the normal glucose group, the mRNA expressions of type Ⅰ collagen and type Ⅳ collagen increased in high glucose group, meanwhile the mRNA and protein expressions of TGF-β1 increased (all P<0.01). In AKF-PD and losartan groups the expressions of type Ⅰ collagen, type Ⅳ collagen and TGF-β1 were inhibited as compared with high glucose group (all P<0.05). Conclusion Fluorofenidone may play an anti-fibrotic effect in db/db mice by reducing the expression of TGF-β1 and inhibiting collagen synthesis in glomerular mesangial cells. Key words: Diabetic nephropathies; Fibrosis; Transforming growth factor beta1; Pyridones