Influence of alprostadil on renal function, oxidative stress, and immune function in early diabetic nephropathy patients

Abstract

Objective To investigate the influence of alprostadil on renal function, oxidative stress, and immune function in early diabetic nephropathy patients. Methods Eighty-six cases of early diabetic nephropathy patients in our hospital during April 2013 to January 2016 were chosen as research subjects, all patients were divided into observation (n=43) and control (n=43) groups according to random data form. Patients in observation group received alprostadil combined with pioglitazone treatment and those in control group received pioglitazone treatment only, both lasted for one month. Before treatment, one month after treatment, renal function indices were detected; serum oxidative stress indices were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer; T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were measured by flow cytometry. Results Before treatment, there were no significant differences in renal function, oxidative stress, immune function between two groups (P>0.05). One month after treatment, peripheral blood renal function indices such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and cystatin C (CysC) levels were lower in observation group than in control group, the level of serum albumin (Alb) was higher in observation group than in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); serum oxidation indices malondialdehyde (MDA), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were lo-wer in observation group than in control group, human antioxidant indices such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) were higher in observation group than in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05); peripheral blood CD3+ , CD4+ T lymphocytes and the ratio of CD4+ /CD8+ were higher in observation group than in control group, CD8+ T lymphocyte level was lower in observation group than in control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Alprostadil can optimize the renal function and immune function in early diabetic nephropathy patients, reduce the degree of oxidative stress. Key words: Alprostadil; Diabetic nephropathies; Kidney; Oxidative stress; Immunity