Effect of lipo-prostaglandin E₁ on mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis in rats

Abstract

The antinephritic effect of lipo-prostaglandin E₁, prostaglandin E₁ incorporated in lipid microspheres was investigated using an experimental model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN). Twenty-two female rats were randomly divided into nephritic group (N,n=6), lipo-prostaglandin E₁ treated group (NL,n=8) and control group (C,n=6). Lipo-prostaglandin E₁ was given intravenously at 40 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹ from the 6th week to the 8th week. Twenty-four h urinary protein contents and blood creatinine (Cr) were determined and the pathological changes were observed in the experiment. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), extracellular matrix (fibronectin, FN; collagen type IV, Col IV) and transforming growth factorβ₁ (TGFβ₁) was detected by using immunohistochemistry. The results showed that lipo-prostaglandin E₁ significantly inhibited the glomerular histopathological changes as well as the elevation of plasma Cr (P<0.05). The overexpression of PCNA, FN, Col IV and TGFβ₁ were also obviously inhibited in group NL as compared with the group N (P<0.01). It was suggested that lipo-prostaglandin E₁ could improve renal function, inhibit the proliferation of glomerular cells and reduce the deposition of extracellular matrix, which may be related to the down-regulation of the TGFβ₁ expression.

Keywords

prostaglandins E₁ / nephritis / extracellular matrix