title: Proteases in Plasma and Kidney of db/db Mice as Markers of Diabetes-Induced Nephropathy.
abstract: Db/db mice are overweight, dyslipidemic and develop diabetic complications, relevant for similar complications in human type 2 diabetes. We have used db/db and db/+ control mice to investigate alterations in proteinase expression and activity in circulation and kidneys by SDS-PAGE zymography, electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and in situ zymography. Plasma from db/db mice contained larger amounts of serine proteinases compared to db/+ mice. Kidneys from the db/db mice had a significantly larger glomerular surface area and somewhat thicker glomerular basement membranes compared to the db/+ mice. Furthermore, kidney extracts from db/+ mice contained metalloproteinases with M(r) of approximately 92000, compatible with MMP-9, not observed in db/db mice. These results indicate that higher levels of serine proteinases in plasma may serve as potential markers for kidney changes in db/db mice, whereas a decrease in MMP-9 in the kidney may be related to the glomerular changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, 9037 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hadler-Olsen
authors.forename: J-O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Winberg
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Reinholt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Uhlin-Hansen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jenssen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kolset