TY - JOUR AB - The pathological damage of mesangial cells serves an important role in the occurrence and development of diabetic nephropathy. Ellagic acid has been reported to possess antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral and anti‑inflammatory properties in several diseases, but the roles of ellagic acid in diabetic nephropathy are unclear. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of ellagic acid on high glucose‑induced mesangial cell damage. The results revealed that high glucose could induce the hyperproliferation of mesangial cells, decrease the activity of superoxide dismutase, increase the malondialdehyde content, the level of reactive oxygen species, the secretion of inflammatory factors (TNF‑α, IL‑1β and IL‑6) and the synthesis of extracellular matrix (Fibronectin, MMP‑9 and TIMP‑1) and activate the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway. Ellagic acid could attenuate the injury of mesangial cells induced by high glucose in a concentration‑dependent manner and its effect was consistent with that of a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). Moreover, a PI3K agonist (740Y‑P) reversed the protective effect of ellagic acid on mesangial cells induced by high glucose. In conclusion, ellagic acid protected mesangial cells from high glucose‑induced injury in a concentration‑dependent manner. The mechanism may be associated with ellagic acid inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and reducing the expression levels of downstream transcription factor FOXO3a. AD - Department of General Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China Department of Respiration, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150086, P.R. China Laboratory Department, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150036, P.R. China Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, P.R. China AU - Lin,Wei AU - Liu,Guojian AU - Kang,Xiaowen AU - Guo,Ping AU - Shang,Yu AU - Du,Ruomei AU - Wang,Xiyue AU - Chen,Liting AU - Yue,Rui AU - Kong,Fanwu AU - Zhu,Qihan DA - 2021/09/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.10449 IS - 3 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - ellagic acid mesangial cells diabetic nephropathy PI3K/Akt FOXO3a PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 1017 ST - Ellagic acid inhibits high glucose‑induced injury in rat mesangial cells via the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Ellagic acid inhibits high glucose‑induced injury in rat mesangial cells via the PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.10449 VL - 22 ER -