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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

An Effective Mouse Model of Unilateral Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Published on: July 15, 2021
Lectin-induced renal local complement activation is involved in tubular interstitial injury in diabetic nephropathy
Jing-Min Zheng1, Xian-Guo Ren2, Zuan-Hong Jiang3
1Department of Nephrology, Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Diseases, Jingling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China.
Background:
Complement has been suggested to be involved in diabetic nephropathy (DN), but the exact significance and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Data about renal local complement activation in DN patients is scarce. The purpose of the study was to clarify the significance and mechanism of renal local complement activation in DN.
Methods:
Sixty-two biopsy-proven DN patients were recruited. Renal expression of C1Q, factor B, C5b-9, MBL and MBL-associated serine protease 1 (MASP1) were detected and associated with the kidney damage.
Results:
C5b-9, MBL and MASP1 was found to increase with the progression of DN. Especially, the level of C5b-9, MBL and MASP1 in tubular interstitium was closely associated with the damage degree of tubular interstitium. In addition, MBL and MASP1 co-localized and their levels in tubular interstitium correlated with the levels of C5b-9 in tubules and tubular interstitium.
Conclusion:
Increased renal local complement activation was present in DN patients and might contribute to the kidney damage, especially tubular interstitial damage. MBL pathway might play an important role in renal tubular interstitial complement activation. Methods against complement activation or MBL pathway might be effective in reducing renal tubular interstitial damage in DN patients.
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