[Effects of puerarin on renal function, expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in diabetic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of puerarin on expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in the kidney of diabetic rats.


METHODS
Uninephrectomized male Wistar rats were used to induce diabetes by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (65 mg x kg(-1)). Puerarin was given daily by intraperitoneal injection from the third day of induction of diabetes for 16 weeks. Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to detect MMP-2, TIMP-2 mRNA expressions and MMP-2, TIMP-2, collagen IV and Laminin expressions in diabetic kidneys with image analysis system, Flow cytometry was used to detect the expressions of TGFbeta1, MMP-2 and TIMP-2.


RESULTS
Compared with those in kidneys of control group, expressions of MMP-2 mRNA and proteins were lower, while the expressions of both TGFbeta1 and TIMP-2 were higher in the diabetic kidney (P < 0.05). The level of MMP-2 expression was advanced, while expression of TIMP-2 was reduced by puerarin treatment (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Puerarin showed some renal protective effect on diabetic nephropathy, partly through inhibition of excessive deposition of glomeruli extracellular matrix by up-regulating MMP-2 and down-regulating TIMP-2 expressions besides reducing the blood glucose.
Duan
Hui-Jun
HJ
Department of Pathology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China. duanhj@hebmu.edu.cn
Liu
Shu-Xia
SX
Zhang
Yu-Jun
YJ
Liu
Qing-Juan
QJ
He
Ning
N
Li
Ying-Min
YM
D000818:Animals; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D024141:Collagen Type IV; D007529:Isoflavones; D007797:Laminin; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C464671:transforming growth factor beta1 (41-65); D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D013311:Streptozocin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; C033607:puerarin