Renoprotective effects of C-peptide in the Dahl salt-sensitive rat

Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2012 Sep 15;303(6):F893-9. doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00068.2012. Epub 2012 Jul 18.

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that renoprotective effects of C-peptide in experimental models of diabetes-induced renal disease may be mediated via lowering blood glucose. The present study examined the renoprotective effects of C-peptide in a model of nondiabetic renal disease, the Dahl salt-sensitive (SS/jr) rat. SS/jr rats were placed on a 2% NaCl diet for 2 wk (HS2, resulting in mild to moderate renal injury) or 4 wk (HS4, resulting in advanced renal injury) and then received either vehicle (veh) or C-peptide (Cpep) for additional 4 wk. Urine albumin (UAE) and protein (UPE) excretion rates were measured at baseline (i.e., before initiation of veh or Cpep treatment) and 4 wk later (i.e., at the time of death). Glomerular permeability, indexes of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, the presence of inflammatory cells, and protein expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and podocin were measured at the time of death. In HS2 + veh rats, UAE and UPE increased by 74 and 92%, respectively, from baseline and the time of death. While HS2 + Cpep attenuated this increase in UAE and UPE, HS4 + Cpep had no effect on these parameters. Similarly, HS2 + Cpep reduced glomerular permeability, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, renal inflammation, TGF-β, and podocin protein expression, while HS4 + Cpep had no effect. These studies indicate that C-peptide is renoprotective in nondiabetic experimental models with mild to moderate renal injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Albuminuria / drug therapy*
  • Albuminuria / pathology
  • Animals
  • C-Peptide / administration & dosage*
  • Fibrosis
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / drug therapy
  • Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / pathology
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Kidney Glomerulus / drug effects*
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology*
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / drug therapy
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / pathology
  • Permeability / drug effects
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Dahl
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary / adverse effects*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / biosynthesis

Substances

  • C-Peptide
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NPHS2 protein
  • Sodium Chloride, Dietary
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta