17beta-Estradiol attenuates diabetic kidney disease by regulating extracellular matrix and transforming growth factor-beta protein expression and signaling.
We previously showed that supplementation with 17beta-estradiol (E2) from the onset of diabetes attenuates the development of diabetic renal disease. The aim of the present study was to examine whether E2 can also attenuate the disease process once it has developed. The present study was performed in nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats. E2 supplementation began after 9 wk of diabetes and continued for 8 wk. Diabetes was associated with an increase in urine albumin excretion, glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, renal cortical collagen type I and IV, laminin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and -2, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, TGF-beta receptor type I and II, Smad2/3, phosphorylated Smad2/3, and Smad4 protein expression, and CD68-positive cell abundance. Decreases in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 protein expression and activity and decreases in Smad6 and Smad7 protein expression were also associated with diabetes. E2 supplementation completely or partially attenuated all these changes, except Smad4 and fibronectin, on which E2 supplementation had no effect. These data suggest that E2 attenuates the progression of diabetic renal disease once it has developed by regulating extracellular matrix, TGF-beta, and expression of its downstream regulatory proteins. These findings support the notion that sex hormones in general, and E2 in particular, are important regulators of renal function and may be novel targets for the treatment and prevention of diabetic renal disease.
Department of Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, 394 Bldg. D, 4000 Reservoir Rd. NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA.
Alexis
A
Dixon
Christine
C
Maric
D000419:Albuminuria / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000473:pathology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009393:Nephritis / Q000473:pathology; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051785:Smad Proteins; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D004958:Estradiol; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases