Protective effects of serum containing Ginkgo biloba extract on glomerulosclerosis in rat mesangial cells.
BACKGROUND
Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is an ancient Chinese phytomedicine which was used to treat various ailments including circulatory and demential disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To study GBE's protective effects on the glomerulosclerosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rat mesangial cells by serum pharmacological methods.


METHODS
The cultured mesangial cells were divided into seven groups: normal, solvent control, high glucose, low dose of GBE serum, moderate dose of GBE serum, high dose of GBE serum, and GBE. The activities of cell antioxidases, type IV collagen and laminin, Smad2/3 and Smad7, and TGF-beta(1) mRNA were measured by methods of spectrophotometry, radioimmunoassay, immunocytochemistry, and RT-PCR, respectively.


RESULTS
The intensity of oxidative stress decreased in the GBE serum-treated groups in comparison with the high glucose group. In addition, the expression of Smad2/3 was greatly reduced, whereas Smad7 expression increased; type IV collagen, laminin and TGF-beta(1) mRNA levels were also diminished.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that GBE is protective agent against glomerulosclerosis in diabetic nephropathy of mesangial cells.
Key Laboratory of Drug Quality Control and Pharmacovigilance, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
Daoquan
D
Tang
Zunjian
Z
Zhang
Yuanyuan
Y
Gao
Yaqin
Y
Wei
Lin
L
Han
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D007797:Laminin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta