Effects of Tongxinluo on expressions of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) in diabetic nephropathy rats

Objective To explore the effects of Tongxinluo on the expressions of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-7(BMP-7) in diabetic nephropathy(DN) rats.Methods The diabetic(DM) rats model was established by one-dose introperitoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ).The rats were randomly divided into diabetic group(DM group),Tongxinluo treated groups(TXL group),and the control group(C group).The ratio of kidney weight to body weight,24 h urine microprotein and piasma AGEs,HbA1c,BUN and Cr were measured in each rat after 24 weeks.The renal pathological changes were examined with PAS staining.mRNA and protein expressions of CTGF and BMP-7 in kidney were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot.Results Expressions of mRNA and protein of CTGF were decreased,but expressions of mRNA and protein of BMP-7 in the kidney of the DM group were increased compared with the control group,with P0.05 and P0.01 respectively.The body weight was increased and urine micro-protein was decreased in TXL treated rats,and the renal pathological changes were lower than those of the DM group.Expression of CTGF was down-regulated andexpression of BMP-7 was up-regulated by TXL.Conclusion TXL can reduce glomerular basement membrane thickening and urine microprotein in diabetic nephropathy rats.Renal protective effects and the mechanism of TXL are probably related to down-regulating expression of CTGF and up-regulating expression of BMP-7.