Treatment with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 preserves glomerular slit diaphragm-associated protein expression in experimental glomerulonephritis.
In this study, we investigated the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on proteinuria and on the alteration of slit diaphragm-associated proteins induced by anti-Thy 1.1 in Wistar rats. Four groups of animals were studied: group I, anti-Thy 1.1 treated rats; group II, anti-Thy1.1 treated group that at day 2, after the onset of overt proteinuria, started the treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3; group III, normal control rats injected with vehicle alone; group IV, rats that received only 1,25(OH)2D3. At day 2, in group I and II, before the administration of 1,25(OH)2D3, protein excretion was significantly increased when compared to controls. Overt proteinuria was maintained until day 14 in group I whereas in group II protein excretion was significantly reduced from day 3 to day 14. Moreover, treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 abrogated podocytes injury, detected as desmin expression and loss of nephrin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), two slit diaphragm-associated proteins, and glomerular polyanion staining, that were observed in group I. In conclusion, these results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 administrated with a therapeutic regiment may revert proteinuria, counteracting glomerular podocyte injury.
Migliori
M
M
Department of Neuroscience, University of Pisa, Italy. maxmigliori@yahoo.it
Giovannini
L
L
Panichi
V
V
Filippi
C
C
Taccola
D
D
Origlia
N
N
Mannari
C
C
Camussi
G
G
D000818:Animals; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003893:Desmin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers / Q000378:metabolism; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016707:Tissue Fixation; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
D002117:Calcitriol; D003893:Desmin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000071228:Polyelectrolytes; D011108:Polymers; D014815:Vitamins; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; C569044:Tjp1 protein, rat; C113267:nephrin