title: [Effect of berberine on expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 and type IV collagen proteins in mesangial cells of diabetic rats with nephropathy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect and mechanism of berberine on diabetic nephropathy in experimental rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat model of diabetic nephropathy was induced by injection of streptozocin (STZ). The rats were divided into 6 groups: control group, model group, 3 berberine treatment groups and Xiaoke Wan (XKW) treatment group. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), kidney weight/body weight (KW/BW), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and urinary protein (Upro) were tested 8 weeks later. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and type IV collagen (IV-C) proteins in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy were observed by optical micrography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Berberine could reduce the levels of FBG, KW/BW, BUN, Cr, Upro and the expression of TGF-beta1 and IV-C proteins in renal tissue of diabetic rats with nephropathy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Berberine may protect renal function and slow down the progression of diabetic nephropathy in rats by suppressing the expression of TGF-beta1 and IV-C proteins in renal tissue.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, China. tulcyl@vip.sina.com
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shantang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000235:genetics*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D001599:Berberine; D013311:Streptozocin