Protective Effect of Valsartan on Podocyte Injury in Rats with Diabetic Nephropathy

To investigate the mechanism of valsartan protecting podocytes and inhibiting renal injury in diabetic rats. The rat model of diabetic nephropathy was induced by combination of valsartan and high-sugar and high-fat diet. The urinary protein content, renal index, inflammatory and antioxidant indexes in the kidney, renal pathological changes and podocyte holes were investigated. Membrane WT1 and P-Cadherin protein expression levels. Compared with the model group, the 24h urine protein content of valsartan was significantly decreased (P<0.05). Valsartan significantly inhibited the body weight of the model group (P<0.01), and significantly inhibited The increase of renal index (P<0.05); the high and middle doses of valsartan could significantly reduce the levels of IL-β, TNF-α and IL-6 in rat kidney (P<0.05-0.01). The valsartan high and middle dose groups significantly reduced MDA content in rat kidney (P<0.05), and significantly increased SOD activity (P<0.05). HE and PAS staining showed that valsartan was used in model group rats. The pathological changes were alleviated, and the glomerular morphology returned to normal. The protein expression of WT1 and P-Cadherin in the kidney of DN rats by Western blot showed that P- in the kidney tissue of valsartan rats. The expression levels of Cadherin and WT1 protein were significantly increased (P<0.05). Valsartan can regulate the expression of podocyte membrane proteins WT1 and P-Cadherin to protect podocytes, and then repair renal function and anti-diabetic nephropathy