title: Berberine exerts renoprotective effects by regulating the AGEs-RAGE signaling pathway in mesangial cells during diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: In this study, we explored the effect of berberine treatment on the AGEs-RAGE pathway in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy, and we investigated the mechanism by which key factors caused kidney injury and the effects of berberine. In vivo, berberine improved fasting blood glucose, body weight, the majority of biochemical and renal function parameters and histopathological changes in the diabetic kidney. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry revealed significant increases in the levels of AGEs, RAGE, P-PKC-β and TGF-β1 in injured kidneys, and these levels were markedly decreased by treatment with berberine. In vitro, berberine inhibited mesangial cell proliferation. Cells treated with berberine showed reduced levels of AGEs, accompanied by decreased RAGE, p-PKC and TGF-β1 levels soon afterwards. Berberine exhibited renoprotective effects in diabetic nephropathy rats, and the molecular mechanism was associated with changes in the levels and regulation of the AGEs-RAGE-PKC-β-TGF-β1 signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, 81#Mei-shan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China; Department of Pharmacy, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, 17# Lu-jiang Road, Hefei 230001, Anhui, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: qiuyuanye1201@163.com.
authors.forename: Yuan-Ye
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Anhui Medical University, 17# Lu-jiang Road, Hefei 230001, Anhui, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: tulcyl@vip.sina.com.
authors.forename: Li-Qin
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, 81#Mei-shan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wwei@ahmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005215:Fasting / Q000097:blood; D005947:Glucose / Q000494:pharmacology; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013311:Streptozocin; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D020011:Protective Agents; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D001599:Berberine; D013311:Streptozocin; D064546:Protein Kinase C beta; D005947:Glucose
keywords: AGEs-RAGE axis; Berberine; Diabetic nephropathy; Glomerulus mesangial cell; Renoprotection