Effect of arctiin on glomerular filtration barrier damage in STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy rats

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the major life-threatening complication of diabetes. Abnormal permeability of glomerular basement membrane plays an important role in DN pathogenesis. This study was performed to assess the effect of arctiin, the lignan constituent from Arctium lappa L., on metabolic profile and aggravation of renal lesions in a rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DN. STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with arctiin at the dosage of 60 or 40 mg/kg/day via intraperitoneal injection for 8 weeks. Blood glucose and 24-h urinary albumin content were measured, and kidney histopathological changes were monitored. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of nephrin, podocin and heparanase (HPSE) in the kidney cortex of rats, respectively. Treatment with arctiin significantly decreased the levels of 24-h urinary albumin, prevented the sclerosis of glomeruli and effectively restored the glomerular filtration barrier damage by up-regulating the expression of nephrin and podocin and down-regulating HPSE level. Our studies suggest that arctiin might be beneficial for DN. The effects of arctiin on attenuating albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis are possibly mediated by regulating the expression of nephrin and podocin and HPSE in STZ-induced diabetic rats.