Effects of valsartan on serum transforming growth factor-β1 levels in early diabetic nephropathy / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum transforming growth factor- β1(TGF- β1) levels and early diabetic nephropathy and clarify whether valsartan plays a role in renal protection by reducing the level of serum TGF-β1. Methods The study subjects were divided into four groupscontrol group (30 cases); normal albuminuria group 1 (NA1 group with 12 cases, U MA/Cr < 10 μg/mg combined with type 2 diabetes);normal albuminuria group 2 (NA2 group with 19 cases,UMA/Cr 10-30 μg/mg combined with type 2 diabetes); microalbuminuria group ( MA group with 35 cases, U MA/Cr 31-300 μg/mg combined with type 2 diabetes). All these type 2 diabetic patients were suffering from diabetic retinopathy, and valsartan ( 80 mg/d) were medicated for those combined with hypertension. The serum TGF-β1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in all subjects. Results Serum TGF- β1 levels in three diabetes groups were (7.41 ± 2.68 ), ( 10.52 ± 4.10), (22.98 ± 43.74) ng/L, respectively, all of which were higher than those in control group [(4.25 ± 5.82) ng/L] (P < 0.05). There were significant differences in serum TGF- β1 levels among MA group, NA2 group and NA1 group (P < 0.05 ). Serum TGF-β1 levels in NA1 group with valsartan treatment significantly decreased compared with those without valsartan treatment (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant reduction in NA2 and MA group with valsartan treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusions High serum TGF-β1 level may be associated with type 2 diabetes and early diabetic nephropathy. Early intervention of valsartan may be delay the onset and development of diabetic nephropathy by decreasing the serum TGF-β1 level.