title: [The effect of losartan on glomerular sclerosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the degradation mechanism of losartan on extracellular matrix in rats with diabetic nephropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat model of diabetic nephropathy was established by streptozotozin(STZ) injection, and the rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (a normal group, a model group and a losartan group). For 16 weeks, the serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were measured, and glomerular sclerosis index(GSI) were caculated. The expression of collagen Type IV,connective tissue growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta1 were examined by Western blot and real time-PCR respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood urea nitrogen, GSI and the expressions of collagen Type IV and CTGF protein in the losartan group were lower than those in the model group(all P<0.05), and the expressions of collagen Type IV mRNA,TGF-beta1 mRNA and CTGF mRNA were lower than those in the model group (all P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Losartan modulates glomerular sclerosis and decreases the accumulation of collagen Type IV by inhibiting TGF-beta1 and CTGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008,China.
authors.forename: Jun-ying
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li-jian
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wang-bin
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Ji-shi
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D019808:Losartan