title: Increased RhoA translocation in renal cortex of diabetic rats.
abstract: RhoA, a member of the Rho small G protein family, mediates multiple intracellular signaling pathways, and is highly expressed in renal cortex. RhoA translocation is associated with RhoA activation. This study was undertaken to examine the relation of translocation of RhoA in the renal cortex with diabetic renal injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control and diabetic groups and were studied at 8 weeks after STZ-injection (55 mg/kg, i.v). We found that the kidney weight and urinary protein excretion were significantly increased in diabetic rats. Diabetic glomerulopathy was confirmed by mesangial matrix expanding and glomerular basement membrane thickening. The ratio of membrane-bound RhoA verses cytosolic RhoA is 1.8 fold higher (p < 0.01) in diabetic group, indicating an enhanced RhoA translocation. There was no significant difference in total RhoA protein expression and RhoA mRNA expression between diabetic and control groups. These data suggest that RhoA translocation might be involved in diabetic renal injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.
authors.forename: Amber R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.forename: Liyang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Brandi N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jiankang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ikuyo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kusaka
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002458:Cell Fractionation; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000502:physiology*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein