Taurine alleviates the progression of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic rat model.
The overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, the protective effects of taurine on diabetic nephropathy along with its underlying mechanism were investigated. Experimental animals were divided into three groups: LETO rats as normal group (n = 10), OLETF rats as diabetic control group (n = 10), and OLETF rats treated with taurine group (n = 10). We treated taurine (200 mg/kg/day) for 20 weeks and treated high glucose (HG, 30 mM) with or without taurine (30 mM) in mouse cultured podocyte. After taurine treatment, blood glucose level was decreased and insulin secretion was increased. Taurine significantly reduced albuminuria and ACR. Also it decreased glomerular volume, GBM thickness and increased open slit pore density through decreased VEGF and increased nephrin mRNA expressions in renal cortex. The antioxidant effects of taurine were confirmed by the reduction of urine MDA in taurine treated diabetic group. Also reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were decreased in HG condition with taurine treated podocytes compared to without taurine. These results indicate that taurine lowers glucose level via increased insulin secretion and ameliorates the progression of diabetic nephropathy through antifibrotic and antioxidant effects in type 2 diabetes rat model.
Center for Health Promotion, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-740, Republic of Korea.
Jang Hyun
0000-0002-1300-2553
JH
Koh
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 162 Ilsan-Dong, Wonju, Gangwon-Do 220-701, Republic of Korea.
Eun Soo
ES
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan 330-721, Republic of Korea.
Miri
M
Hyun
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 162 Ilsan-Dong, Wonju, Gangwon-Do 220-701, Republic of Korea.
Hong Min
HM
Kim
Department of Radiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea.
Yoon Jung
YJ
Choi
Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan 330-721, Republic of Korea.
Eun Young
EY
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 162 Ilsan-Dong, Wonju, Gangwon-Do 220-701, Republic of Korea.
Dhananjay
D
Yadav
Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 162 Ilsan-Dong, Wonju, Gangwon-Do 220-701, Republic of Korea.
Choon Hee
CH
Chung