The inhibition of mesangial cell (MC) proliferation has become an important therapy in preventing glomerular proliferation diseases. Trifluoperazine (TFP) has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of several types of cancer cell, however, the effects of TFP in renal proliferation diseases remain to be fully elucidated. The present study examined the effects of TFP on the proliferation of MCs and quantified cell apoptosis progression in vivo and in vitro. The effects of various TFP concentrations and treatment durations on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis in vitro were analyzed using flow cytometry in conjunction with a Cell Counting kit-8 assay. Cell proliferation in vivo was determined using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry of Ki67. The expression of the two cell apoptosis-related proteins, B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), were estimated using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry in vivo and in vitro. TFP-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathways were also estimated using western blot analysis. These results suggested that TFP inhibited MC proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was found that TFP inhibited the abnormal proliferation of MCs, which was stimulated by 20% fetal bovine serum in vitro and in lupus MRL/lpr mice. TFP promoted cell apoptosis, downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of Bax in a dose-dependent manner at mRNA and protein levels. In addition, TFP inhibited phosphorylated AKT, potentially leading to the suppressed activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. TFP treatment significantly decreased the levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, but had no significant effects on the body weight and liver function of the lupus mice. These results validated and reinforced the potential of TFP in the treatment of mesangial proliferative diseases.

This research was intended to synthesize a type of cellulose aerogels used for urea adsorption, which had a fast adsorption rate and high adsorption capacity. This kind of urea adsorbent...

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of rituximab in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).MethodsA total of 77 patients with IMN diagnosed in both our hospital and other hospitals were included in this study; the patients were divided into two groups: a treatment-naïve group (n = 19) and a refractory/relapsed group (n = 58). The clinical data of the patients, including urine examination, blood test, safety evaluation and efficacy evaluation results, were analysed retrospectively. The changes in clinical biochemical indexes and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups before and after treatment, and the clinical efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of primary IMN and refractory recurrent membranous nephropathy was evaluated.ResultsOf the 77 patients included in this study, the average age was 48 years, and there was a male-to-female ratio of 61:16. There were 19 cases in the initial treatment group and 58 cases in the refractory/relapse group. The 24-hour urine protein quantification, cholesterol, B cell count and M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) results in the 77 patients with IMN after treatment were all lower than those before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Serum albumin was higher than before treatment, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The total remission rate in the initial and refractory/relapsed treatment groups was 84.21% and 82.76%, respectively. There was no statistical difference in the total remission rate between the two groups (P > 0.05). During treatment, nine patients (11.69%) experienced infusion-related adverse reactions, which were relieved rapidly after symptomatic treatment. The anti-PLA2R antibody titre of the refractory/relapsed group was significantly negatively correlated with serum creatinine (r = −0.187, P = 0.045) and significantly correlated with 24-hour urine protein (r = −0.490, P < 0.001). There was a positive correlation and a significant negative correlation with serum albumin (r = −0.558, P < 0.001).ConclusionsRegardless of whether RTX is used as an initial therapy or refractory/relapsed membranous nephropathy, most patients with IMN have complete or partial remission after RTX treatment, with mild adverse reactions.