Effect of the Best Compatibility of Components in Corni Fructus on WT1 Expression in Glomerular Podocytes of Type 2 Diabetic Rats with Early Nephropathy

Abstract

Our previous studies have shown that the best compatibility of components in Corni Fructus (PC) had a protective effect on vascular endothelial cells. In this study, the effect of PC on WT1 expression in glomerular podocytes and the mechanism of PC on early nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rats have been investigated. Type 2 diabetic rats were generated by high-fat diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), then fed aminoguanidine (100 mg/kg), glimepiride (0.4 mg/kg), low-dose (60 mg/kg) or high-dose (120 mg/kg) of PC once a day for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) was examined regularly. Insulin (INS) was measured by a radioimmunoassay. Microalbuminuria (mALB) was measured by an ELISA assay. Urinary creatinine (UCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) were measured by colorimetric assays. Renal morphological changes were observed by optical microscopy. The expression index of Wilms tumor 1 (WT1EI) in glomeruli was examined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that PC led to a decrease in FBG (p < 0.01), NAG (p < 0.05) and mALB (p < 0.05) and an increase in INS (p < 0.01) and WT1EI (p < 0.05) compared to the diabetic group. PC could improve renal damage and greatly reduce the renal morphology score (p < 0.05). These results suggested that PC had the protective effect on early nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rats, which was closely related to the regulation of podocytes.

Cornus mas and Cornus Officinalis—Analogies and Differences of Two Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used

“…Based on some animal experiments investigating the effect of preparations made from C. mas fruits the blood glucose decreasing activity and enhancement of insulin sensitivity were demonstrated (Jayaprakasam et al, 2006; Mirbadalzadeh and Shirdel, 2012; Narimani-Rad et al, 2013; Asgary et al, 2014). The same findings were reported also for fruits of C. officinalis (Park et al, 2011; Gao et al, 2012; Liu et al, 2012; Han et al, 2014). Data from clinical studies evaluating the therapeutic effect of the herbal preparation are available only for C. mas .…”

Chinese medicines in the treatment of experimental diabetic nephropathy

“…In addition, alloxan (ALX)-induced mice, db/db mice, KK-Ay mice, and Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats have been reported for investigation of CMs in DN treatment [ 15 – 18 ]. Meanwhile, glomerular endothelial cells, mouse podocyte cells, renal proximal epithelial cells, murine hepatocytes, mouse mesangial cells, and human mesangial cells are used as in vitro models for anti-DN mechanism studies [ 19 – 27 ]. By applying these models, the majority of studies have reported that CMs such as Acacia nilotica pods ( jin - he - huan ) [ 28 ], Artemisia campestris ( huang - ye - hao ) [ 29 ], Paeonialactiflora ( shao - yao ) [ 30 ], and Schisandra chinensis ( wu - wei - zi ) [ 21 , 31 ] exhibited beneficial effects on all stages of experimental DN and may protect multiple organs.…”

Edible plants from traditional Chinese medicine is a promising alternative for the management of diabetic nephropathy

“…Dietary therapy has been part of TCM for several thousand years. Recent evidence indicates that TCM edible plants such as Panax notoginseng, Cinnamomum zeylanicum and Astragalus membranaceus have significant potential to modulate DN progression Gao et al, 2012;Liu, Xu, Shen, & Wu, 2012;Tang et al, 2011;Tu, Qin, Dong, Lu, & Guan, 2011). Moreover, many TCM edible plants such as mushroom, grape, hawthorn etc., demonstrate a preferable benefit for DN patients Li et al, 2009;Mooradian, Failla, Hoogwerf, Maryniuk, & Wylie-Rosett, 1994).…”