[Effects of Astragalus on expression of renal angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in diabetic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue of diabetic rats and the effects of Astragalus.


METHODS
SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetes group and Astragalus-treated group. The expression of receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue was assessed by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression was significantly elevated in the diabetes group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression in the Astragalus-treated group was decreased as compared with the diabetes group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Tie-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the early stage diabetic renal injury. The reno-protection effect of Astragalus may be mediated by down-regulating the expression of Tie-2 in the kidney tissue of diabetic rats.
Gu
Hong-wei
HW
Department of Nephrology, Renji Hospital, Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200127, China.
Ni
Zhao-hui
ZH
Gu
Le-yi
LY
Yan
Yu-cheng
YC
Dai
Hui-li
HL
Li
Ning-li
NL
Zhang
Min-fang
MF
Qian
Jia-qi
JQ
D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2