Expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in diabetic nephropathy rats and intervention effect of Chinese materia medica for dispersing blood stasis and dredging collaterals / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats and the intervention effect of Chinese materia medica (CMM) for dispersing blood stasis and dredging collateral. Methods: Ten rats were selected as control group from 60 rats, the remaining rats were established as DN models by feeding high glucose and high fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin ip injection. Model rats were randomly divided into model group, irbesartan treatment group, and CMM group. The rats in each group were ig administered with corresponding drug, at the end of the 20th week, the 24 h urinary total protein was detected. The expression levels of Wnt4 and β-catenin mRNA and protein in renal tissue were detected. Results: Compared with control group, the 24 h urinary total protein, expression of Wnt4, β-catenin mRNA, and protein significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with model group, 24 h urinary total protein, the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin mRNA, and protein decreased significantly in irbesartan group and CMM group (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Conclusion: CMM for dispersing blood stasis and dredging collateral might decrease proteinuria in DN rats. It can also inhibit the high expression of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy rats. The effect might be one of the main ways to reduce urinary protein excretion.