Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of curcumin, one of the most important active ingredients of turmeric, on podocyte injury in vitro and obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) in vivo. Cellular experiments in vitro showed that curcumin significantly antagonized leptin-induced downregulation of the mRNA and protein expression of podocyte-associated molecules including nephrin, podocin, podoplanin, and podocalyxin. Animal experiments in vivo showed that curcumin significantly reduced the body weight, Lee's index, abdominal fat index, urinary protein excretion, and average glomerular diameter and significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of the above podocyte-associated molecules in ORG mice. Furthermore, the experiments in vitro and in vivo both displayed that curcumin could downregulate the mRNA and protein expressions of Wnt1, Wnt2b, Wnt6, and β-catenin and upregulate the phosphorylation level of β-catenin protein in podocytes and renal tissue. In conclusion, curcumin is able to alleviate the harmful reaction of leptin on podocytes and reduce the severity of ORG. The above protective effects are associated with the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation in podocytes.
Highlights
In the past two decades, the obese patients were obviously increased with the improvement of life conditions in China
Progression of obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) is relatively slow, but it still can enter into end stage renal disease (ESRD)
In vitro cellular experiments showed that, compared with control group, leptin significantly downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of podocyte-associated molecules including nephrin, podocin, podoplanin, and podocalyxin (P < 0.05), while curcumin had no effect on their expression (P > 0.05)
Summary
In the past two decades, the obese patients were obviously increased with the improvement of life conditions in China. With a rise in the number of obese patients, the incidence of ORG was rapidly increased. Kambham and colleagues [4] reported that among 6818 patients who underwent renal biopsy, the percentage of ORG patients increased from 0.2% in 1986–1990 to 2% in 1996–2000. Cheng and Chen [5] reported that ORG patients accounted for 3.8% in 1186 cases of renal biopsy during 2006–2008. Progression of ORG is relatively slow, but it still can enter into end stage renal disease (ESRD). Prevention and treatment of ORG have attracted more and more attention [1, 2]
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