Abstract
Objective Cytokines are essential promoters in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes. The following study investigates the adjustment mechanism of Tangshen formula (TSF) on cytokine expressions in db/db mice (DN animal model). Materials and Methods Db/db mice were randomly divided into three groups. The treated groups were orally administered with TSF and losartan for 12 weeks. Biochemical and histological examinations were determined at 8 and 12 weeks posttreatment, while the cytokine antibody array analysis was applied to analyze the expression of 144 cytokines in kidney tissues at the end of the 12th week posttreatment. Results TSF significantly reduced urinary albumin excretion and the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine, and urea nitrogen. Furthermore, a significant decrease in glomerulus and mesangial area, as well as the downregulation of 24 cytokines and upregulated expressions of 5 cytokines, was found in the TSF-treated mice. Conclusions The present study reveals that TSF could ameliorate the metabolic anomalies and renal injury in db/db mice. One of the important mechanisms for treatment of DN using the treatment of TSF is the control of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway via regulation of IL-2, IL-6, IL-13, Il-15, and IFN-γ expression.
Highlights
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major microvascular complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide [1, 2]
Many inflammatory cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of DN, including cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin6 (IL-6), interleukin-18 (IL-18), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), adiponectin, leptin, and resistin which are believed to be essential for DN because of cellular injury and progressive fibrosis [4]
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Tangshen formula (TSF) against DN and to explore the molecular mechanisms of multiple cytokine expressions underlying the renalprotective activity in db/db mice
Summary
Cytokines are essential promoters in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes. The following study investigates the adjustment mechanism of Tangshen formula (TSF) on cytokine expressions in db/db mice (DN animal model). Db/db mice were randomly divided into three groups. The treated groups were orally administered with TSF and losartan for 12 weeks. A significant decrease in glomerulus and mesangial area, as well as the downregulation of 24 cytokines and upregulated expressions of 5 cytokines, was found in the TSF-treated mice. The present study reveals that TSF could ameliorate the metabolic anomalies and renal injury in db/db mice. One of the important mechanisms for treatment of DN using the treatment of TSF is the control of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway via regulation of IL-2, IL-6, IL-13, Il-15, and IFN-γ expression
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