TY - JOUR AB - Saxagliptin (SAX) can protect against tissue damage caused by diabetic nephropathy. However, whether this compound can restore kidney function, and its specific mechanism of action remain unclear. The present study explored the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of SAX. Male Wistar rats (8 weeks old) were randomly divided into the following groups: A control group (n=10); a group with streptozocin‑induced diabetes mellitus (DM) treated with saline (n=20); and a group with streptozocin‑induced DM treated with SAX (n=20). Following 20 weeks of treatment, renal function and the extent of renal damage were assessed based on histological staining using hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid‑Schiff and Masson's trichrome staining. The experimental results indicated that Streptozocin induction of DM led to thicker basement membranes in mesangial cells and a more abundant extracellular matrix. These changes were ameliorated following treatment with SAX. The data demonstrated that renal tissue and renal cell apoptosis were ameliorated significantly following treatment with SAX. Furthermore, the expression levels of the apoptotic genes poly (ADP‑ribose) polymerase‑1 (PARP‑1) and caspase 3 were significantly decreased following treatment with SAX. Therefore, SAX may reduce the extent of renal apoptosis and pathological outcomes in diabetic nephropathy by downregulating the expression of caspase 3 and PARP‑1 in the death receptor pathway of apoptosis. AD - Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China Department of Hematology, The Qilu Children's Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China AU - Xing,Xiaowei AU - Guo,Shuang AU - Liu,Yusheng AU - Kuang,Jiangying AU - Huang,Zhiwei AU - Wang,Xin AU - Lu,Qinghua DA - 2021/09/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.10422 IS - 3 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - saxagliptin caspase 3 PARP‑1 diabetic nephropathy apoptosis PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 990 ST - Saxagliptin protects against diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting caspase 3/PARP‑1‑dependent nephrocyte apoptosis T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Saxagliptin protects against diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting caspase 3/PARP‑1‑dependent nephrocyte apoptosis UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10422 VL - 22 ER -