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Mechanism of Kemeng Fang's Inhibition of Podocyte Apoptosis in Rats with Membranous Nephropathy through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
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Carnosine Protects Mouse Podocytes from High Glucose Induced Apoptosis through PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 Pathways

Kunxiao Zhao1, Ying Li1, Ziqiang Wang2

  • 1Department of Nephrology, The Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province 050051, China.

Biomed Research International
|July 6, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Carnosine protects kidney cells from diabetes complications by reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis. It activates PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 pathways, offering a potential treatment for diabetic nephropathy.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Diabetology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Diabetic nephropathy, a diabetes complication, can cause chronic renal failure.
  • Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are key players in diabetic nephropathy's pathology.
  • Carnosine exhibits antioxidant properties, but its precise mechanism in diabetic nephropathy is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate carnosine's protective effects on high glucose-induced injury in mouse podocytes (MPC5).
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying carnosine's antioxidant and anti-apoptotic actions.

Main Methods:

  • MPC5 cells were exposed to high glucose (HG) with varying carnosine concentrations.
  • Cell viability was assessed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay.
  • ROS levels and apoptosis were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining.

Main Results:

  • Carnosine (5-20mM) protected MPC5 cells against HG-induced injury.
  • High glucose-induced ROS production and podocyte apoptosis were significantly downregulated by carnosine.
  • These protective effects were mediated through the activation of the PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 signaling pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Carnosine demonstrates protective effects against diabetic nephropathy-related kidney cell injury.
  • Carnosine reduces ROS levels and podocyte apoptosis by activating PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 signaling pathways.
  • Carnosine represents a potential therapeutic agent for managing diabetic nephropathy.

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