Effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium on podocytes in rats with diabetic nephropathy

Hao,Li; Pan,Meng‑Shu; Zheng,Yun; Wang,Rui‑Feng

doi:10.3892/etm.2014.1670

Effect of Cordyceps sinensis and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium on podocytes in rats with diabetic nephropathy

Authors:
- Li Hao
- Meng‑Shu Pan
- Yun Zheng
- Rui‑Feng Wang
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, P.R. China
Published online on: April 7, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2014.1670
Pages: 1465-1470

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Cordyceps sinensis (CS) and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium (TWP) on podocytes in rats with diabetic nephropathy (DN). DN rat models were established and divided randomly into normal control (group A), DN (group B), CS (group C), TWP (group D) and CS and TWP groups (group E). After 12 weeks, levels of 24‑h urinary protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR), white blood cells, blood glucose (GLU), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and kidney weight (KW)/body weight (BW) were determined. Renal pathological changes were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin staining, whereas the structural changes in the podocytes were observed under a transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of nephrin and podocin were evaluated using immunofluorescence staining. Compared with group A, the SCR and BUN levels in group B were higher (P<0.05) and the GLU, KW/BW and the 24‑h urine protein were markedly higher (P<0.01). Moreover, incidences of glomerular disorders, chronic tubulointerstitial damage and glomerular podocyte lesions in groups B, C, D and E were observed, compared with group A. The high cortical expression of nephrin and podocin protein decreased. Compared with group B, the KW/BW and 24‑h urinary protein level in groups C, D and E were lower (P<0.01). The glomeruli, tubules and podocytes exhibited pathomorphological improvements and the nephrin and podocin protein expression levels were higher in the nephridial tissue. A decrease in KW/BW and the 24‑h urinary protein level, as well as improvements in glomerular disorder, chronic tubulointerstitial damage and glomerular podocyte lesions, were observed in groups C, D and E. Therefore, the results demonstrated that CS and TWP exhibited a protective effect on the podocytes of rats with DN. Moreover, CS combined with TWP increased this protective effect.

View Figures

View References

1	Luimula P, Ahola H, Wang SX, et al: Nephrin in experimental glomerular disease. Kidney Int. 58:1461–1468. 2000. View Article : Google Scholar
2	Furness PN, Hall LL, Shaw JA and Pringle JH: Glomerular expression of nephrin is decreased in acquired human nephritic syndrome. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 14:1234–1237. 1999. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
3	White KE and Bilous RW; Diabiopsies Study Group. Structural alterations to the podocyte are related to proteinuria in type 2 diabetic patients. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 19:1437–1440. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
4	Hu Z, Li HP, Ye MQ, Yu HD and Zou GL: Investigation advance in pharmacological activity of Cordyceps sinensis. Anjisuan He Shengwu Ziyuan. 25:20–23. 2003.(In Chinese).
5	Zhang XH, Shi LF and Hu JH: Research progress of Cordyceps chemical constituents and pharmacological functions. Zhong Yao Cai. 23:722–724. 2000.(In Chinese).
6	Lin RQ, Cheng H and Zhan YP: The mechanism and application of Cordyceps agents and the application in kidney disease (I). Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Shen Bing Za Zhi. 10:924–926. 2009.(In Chinese).
7	Lin RQ, Cheng H and Zuo Z: The mechanism and application of Cordyceps agents and the application in kidney disease (II). Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Shen Bing Za Zhi. 10:1016–1018. 2009.(In Chinese).
8	Camussi G, Mariano F, Biancone L, Montrucchio G and Vercellone A: Effect of cytokines on the cytoskeleton of resident glomerular cells. Kidney Int Suppl. 39:S32–S36. 1993.PubMed/NCBI
9	Garg P, Verma R and Holzman LB: Slit diaphragm junctional complex and regulation of the cytoskeleton. Nephron Exp Nephrol. 106:e67–e72. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
10	Ichimura K, Kurihara H and Sakai T: Actin filament organization of foot processes in vertebrate glomerular podocytes. Cell Tissue Res. 329:541–557. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
11	Schlondorf J: Nephrin AKTs on actin: The slit diaphragm-actin cytoskeleton signaling network expands. Kidney Int. 73:524–526. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
12	Doublier S, Ruotsalainen V, Salvidio G, et al: Nephrin redistribution on podocytes is a potential mechanism for proteinuria in patients with primay acquired nephrotic syndrome. Am J Pathol. 158:1723–1731. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
13	Chen ZH, Liu ZH, Hong YM, et al: Triptolide ameliorates podocyte injury induced by the terminal complement factor C5b-9 in vitro. Shen Zang Bing Yu Tou Xi Shen Yi Zhi Za Zhi. 18:310–317. 2009.(In Chinese).
14	Qin WS and Liu ZH: The therapeutic mechanism of Triptolide. Shen Zang Bing Yu Tou Xi Shen Yi Zhi Za Zhi. 16:158–161. 2007.(In Chinese).
15	Huang S: Studies in animal models of diabetes status and progress. Guangxi Medical Journal. 24:46–48. 2002.(In Chinese).
16	Benigni A, Coma D, Zoja C, et al: Targeted deletion of angiotensin II type 1A receptor does not protect mice from progressive nephropathy of overload proteinuria. J Am Soc Nephrol. 15:2666–2674. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
17	Morigi M, Buelli S, Angioletti S, et al: In response to protein load podocytes reorganize cytoskeleton and modulate endothelin-1 gene: implication for permselective dysfunction of chronic nephropathies. Am J Pathol. 166:1309–1320. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
18	Christensen EI and Neilson S: Structural and functional features of protein handling in the kidney proximal tubule. Semin Nephrol. 11:414–439. 1991.PubMed/NCBI
19	Zou Z, Chung B, Nguyen T, et al: Linking receptor-mediated endocytosis and cell signaling: evidence for regulated intramembrane proteolysis of megalin in proximal tubule. J Biol Chem. 279:343102–34310. 2004.PubMed/NCBI
20	Koop K, Eikmans M, Baelde HJ, et al: Expression of podocyte-associated molecules in acquired human kidney diseases. J Am Soc Nephrol. 14:2063–2071. 2003. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
21	Toyoda M, Najafian B, Kim Y, Caramori ML and Mauer M: Podocyte detachment and reduced glomerular capillary endothelial fenestration in human type 1 diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes. 56:2155–2160. 2007. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
22	Saleem MA, Ni L, Witherden I, Tryggvason K, Ruotsalainen V, Mundel P and Mathieson PW: Co-localization of nephrin, podocin, and the action cytoskeleton. Am J Pathol. 161:1459–1466. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
23	Liu ZH, Li SJ, Chen C, Zeng C, Zhang B, Zhou H and Li L: Glomerular podocyte lesion in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Shen Zang Bing Yu Tou Xi Shen Yi Zhi Za Zhi. 12:144–148. 2003.
24	Barisoni L and Koppb BJ: Update in podocyte biology: putting one’s best foot forward. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. 12:251–258. 2003.
25	Tryggvason K: Unraveling the mechanisms of glomerular ultrafiltration: nephrin, a key component of the slit diaphragm. J Am Soc Nephrol. 10:2440–2445. 1999.PubMed/NCBI
26	Shen XG and Shen HC: Research advancement of diabetic nephropathy and podocytes injury. Urology and nephrology FMS. 25:680–683. 2005.(In Chinese).
27	Benzing T: Signaling at the slit diaphragm. J Am Soc Nephrol. 15:1382–1391. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar
28	Langham RG, Kelly DJ, Cox AJ, et al: Proteinuria and the expression of the podocyte slit diaphragm protein, nephrin, in diabetic nephropathy: effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition. Diabetologia. 45:1572–1576. 2002. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
29	Zheng Y, Hao Li, Pan MS and Ding N: Effect of Triperygium wilfordii polyglucoside on the podocytes of diabetic nephropathy rats. Zhonghua Shen Zang Bing Za Zhi. 27:288–292. 2011.(In Chinese).