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Summary: Hyperbranched polyesteramides were prepared using phethalic anhydride (Ph An) or maleic anhydride (M An) as an A 2 monomer and diethanol amine (DEA) as B 0 B 2 monomer. Bulk condensation technique was used to synthesize polymers with both OH and modified polymers with long alkyl chain end groups. The prepared polymers were characterized using 1 H-NMR, FTIR and TGA. Solution viscosity for hyperbranched polyester amide with hydroxyl end groups was measured as well. Dielectric and electric properties of the modified samples were investigated over a range of frequency and temperatures. No relaxation peak is noticed in the dielectric spectrum e(n) at various temperatures. The illustration of the imaginary part of the electric modulus M 00 versus frequency shows a peak which is shifted towards higher frequency in increasing temperature.

The kidney glomerular filtration barrier (GFB) is enriched with heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans, which contribute to its permselectivity. The endoglycosidase heparanase cleaves HS and hence appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of kidney injury and glomerulonephritis. We have recently reported, nonetheless, that heparanase overexpression preserved glomerular structure and kidney function in an experimental model of Adriamycin-induced nephropathy. To elucidate mechanisms underlying heparanase function in podocytes—key GFB cells, we utilized a human podocyte cell line and transgenic mice overexpressing heparanase. Notably, podocytes overexpressing heparanase (H) demonstrated significantly higher survival rates and viability after exposure to Adriamycin or hydrogen peroxide, compared with mock-infected (V) podocytes. Immunofluorescence staining of kidney cryo-sections and cultured H and V podocytes as well as immunoblotting of proteins extracted from cultured cells, revealed that exposure to toxic injury resulted in a significant increase in autophagic flux in H podocytes, which was reversed by the heparanase inhibitor, Roneparstat (SST0001). Heparanase overexpression was also associated with substantial transcriptional upregulation of autophagy genes BCN1, ATG5, and ATG12, following Adriamycin treatment. Moreover, cleaved caspase-3 was attenuated in H podocytes exposed to Adriamycin, indicating lower apoptotic cell death in H vs. V podocytes. Collectively, these findings suggest that in podocytes, elevated levels of heparanase promote cytoprotection.