Tiaolipiwei Acupuncture Reduces Albuminuria by Alleviating Podocyte Lesions in a Rat Model of Diabetic Nephropathy

Background. Diabetic nephropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease. Tiaolipiwei acupuncture is a safe treatment approach that may be effective for lowering albuminuria in diabetic nephropathy. Yet, the exact mechanisms of this therapeutic effect are unclear. Methods. A rodent model of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) was induced by a high-fat diet combined with low-dose streptozotocin. T2DN rats were treated with Tiaolipiwei acupuncture (ACU) for 4, 8, or 12 weeks. At the end of treatment, urinary and blood samples were collected for analysis. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe morphological changes, and protein expression levels of nephrin, CD2AP, podocalyxin, and desmin were quantified in renal tissue. Results. Compared to the T2DN groups, the T2DN