[Effects of valsartan on the renal vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor flk-1 of diabetic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To explore effects of valsartan on expression changes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor Flk-1 in diabetic rat kidney.


METHODS
To establish the diabetic nephropathy (DN) rat models and divide the experiment rats into three groups--the DN group, the valsartan group and the control group, and use the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western Blotting and immunohistochemical techniques to detect the expression of VEGF and Flk-1, and detect the urine protein and glomerular area and volume, then analyze the relationship of the data.


RESULTS
The mRNA and protein expression of VEGF and Flk-1, the urine protein and glomerular area and volume in the DN were higher than those in the control group and valsartan group (P < 0.05). VEGF and Flk-1 were positively correlated with the urine protein and glomerular area and volume (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
VEGF and Flk-1 play an important role in the pathogenesis of DN, of which over-expression may lead to the damage of kidney. The angiotensin II receptor antagonist--valsartan can protect kidney through the non-hemodynamic mechanism of inhibiting the abnormal expression of VEGF and Flk-1.
Tang
Wan-Xin
WX
Department of Nephrology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chen
Ze-Jun
ZJ
Huang
Song-Min
SM
Tao
Ye
Y
Fu
Ping
P
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000068756:Valsartan; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013777:Tetrazoles; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000068756:Valsartan; C501164:Flt1 protein, rat; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D014633:Valine