title: Effect of benfotiamine in podocyte damage induced by peritoneal dialysis fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In peritoneal dialysis (PD), residual renal function (RRF) fundamentally contributes to improved quality of life and patient survival. High glucose and advanced glycation end-products (AGE) contribute locally to peritoneal and systemically to renal damage. Integrity of podocyte structure and function is of special importance to preserve RRF. Benfotiamine could counteract the glucose and AGE-mediated toxicity by blocking hyperglycemia-associated podocyte damage via the pentose-phosphate pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  A human differentiated podocyte cell line was incubated with control solution (control), 2.5% glucose solution (glucose), and 2.5% peritoneal dialysis fluid (PDF) for 48 h either ±50 μM benfotiamine. Podocyte damage and potential benefit of benfotiamine were analyzed using immunofluorescence, western blot analysis, and a functional migration assay. For quantitation, a semiquantitative score was used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When incubating podocytes with benfotiamine, glucose, and PDF-mediated damage was reduced, resulting in lower expression of AGE and intact podocin and ZO-1 localization. The reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton was restored in the presence of benfotiamine as functional podocyte motility reached control level. Decreased level of inflammation could be shown as well as reduced podocyte apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that benfotiamine protects podocytes from glucose and PDF-mediated dysfunction and damage, in particular, with regard to cytoskeletal reorganization, motility, inflammation, and podocyte survival.
authors: Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Müller-Krebs
authors: Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Katharina
authors: K
authors: Nissle
authors: Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Tsobaneli
authors: Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Zeier
authors: Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany ; Department of Endocrinology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Lars Philipp
authors: LP
authors: Kihm
authors: 2nd Department of Medicine, Semmelweis University , Budapest , Hungary.
authors: Zoltan
authors: Z
authors: Kender
authors: Department of Endocrinology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Fleming
authors: Department of Endocrinology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Peter Paul
authors: PP
authors: Nawroth
authors: Department of Medicine, Rush University Medical Center , Chicago, IL , USA.
authors: Jochen
authors: J
authors: Reiser
authors: Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg , Heidelberg , Germany.
authors: Vedat
authors: V
authors: Schwenger
keywords: benfotiamine; glucose degradation products; high glucose; peritoneal dialysis; peritoneal dialysis fluids; podocytes; systemic toxicity