title: The Protective Effects of Curcumin on Obesity-Related Glomerulopathy Are Associated with Inhibition of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Activation in Podocytes.
abstract: The present study investigated the effects of curcumin, one of the most important active ingredients of turmeric, on podocyte injury in vitro and obesity-related glomerulopathy (ORG) in vivo. Cellular experiments in vitro showed that curcumin significantly antagonized leptin-induced downregulation of the mRNA and protein expression of podocyte-associated molecules including nephrin, podocin, podoplanin, and podocalyxin. Animal experiments in vivo showed that curcumin significantly reduced the body weight, Lee's index, abdominal fat index, urinary protein excretion, and average glomerular diameter and significantly upregulated the mRNA and protein expressions of the above podocyte-associated molecules in ORG mice. Furthermore, the experiments in vitro and in vivo both displayed that curcumin could downregulate the mRNA and protein expressions of Wnt1, Wnt2b, Wnt6, and β-catenin and upregulate the phosphorylation level of β-catenin protein in podocytes and renal tissue. In conclusion, curcumin is able to alleviate the harmful reaction of leptin on podocytes and reduce the severity of ORG. The above protective effects are associated with the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling activation in podocytes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China ; Division of Nephrology, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100010, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Pu
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Yan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Rui
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Dan-Nuo
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong