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Updated: Aug 18, 2026
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Whole Kidney, Medulla, and Cortical Tubules in Diabetic Pathogenesis of Kidney Injury in Mice
Published on: May 2, 2025
[Expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin in kidney of diabetic rats]
Hong Li1, Zhe Zhang, Hong-Lei Wen
1The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China. lihong@mail.hz.zj.cn
Objective:
To investigate the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (alphaSMA), a marker of myofibroblast in kidney of diabetic rats and its role in pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
Methods:
Diabetic disease model was made on 24 Sprague-Dauley (SD) rats by an single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (70 mg/kg) and 24 health SD rats served as controls. Six diabetic rats and six control rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, 8 weeks after injection of streptozotocin. At each time-point, the renal morphological changes were examined by histopathology. alpha SMA and collagen-IV (C-IV) expressions were studied by immunohistochemistry (SABC). The content of alpha SMA in renal cortex was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).
Results:
At all time-points, renal content of alpha SMA increased in diabetic rats. Compared with controls, diabetic rats had a steady increased accumulation of C-IV. Expression of C-IV was positively correlated with that of alpha SMA.
Conclusion:
At early stage of diabetes,increased alpha SMA in kidney suggests the formation of myofibroblast, which may be involved in accumulation of C-IV and contributed to diabetic nephropathy.
