Angiopoietins in Diabetic Nephropathy / 대한신장학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It has been reported that angiopoietins and Tie-2 receptor play an important role in the maintenance of glomerular filtration barrier in various glomerulonephritis models. We studied the role of angiopoietins on renal injury in diabetes. METHODS: In this study, we examined the changes of angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, Tie-2 receptor, and nephrin expression in the experimental diabetic nephropathy and also determined whether these changes were modified by renoprotective intervention by angiotensin II receptor blocker, alpha-lipoic acid, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR)-agonist. RESULTS: A marked increase in urinary albumin excretion and glomerular volume was observed in diabetic rats. Renal angiopoietin-2 and Tie-2 receptor expression were significantly higher in diabetic rats than in the control groups, with a significant reduction in renal angiopoietin-2 expression, albuminuria, and renal hypertrophy in angiotensin II receptor blocker-treated diabetic rats. And there was a significant reduction in renal Tie-2 expression and renal hypertrophy in alpha-lipoic acid-treated and PPAR-gamma agonist-treated diabetic rats. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the dysregulation of angiopoietins and Tie-2 receptor can lead to renal hypertrophy and albuminuria. Angiotensin II receptor blocker, alpha-lipoic acid, and PPAR-gamma agonist attenuated these changes in angiopoietins and/or Tie-2 expression and prevented the development of albuminuria and renal hypertrophy in vivo.