Effect Of Mycophenolate Mofetil On T Lymphocytes Infiltration Of Renal Tissues In Diabetic Rats

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on Tlymphocytes infiltration of renal tissues in streptozotocin(STZ)-induceddiabetic rats.MethodThirty male wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups： normalcontrol group (NC group), diabetic model group(DM group) and MMF-treatedgroup(MMF group). In16weeks, blood glucose (BG), blood urea nitrogen(BUN), serum creatinine(Scr), renal hypertrophy index (kidney weight/bodyweight, KW/BW) and24-hour urinary protein (24Upro) were detected. Thenumber of CD3+/CD4+T cells and expression of TNF-α/IFN-γ in renal tissueswere measured through flow cytometry. Moreover, CD3+/CD8+T cells weredetermined by immunohistochemistry.ResultsCompared with NC group, BG, BUN, Scr, Kw/Bw,24upro weresignificantly increased in DM group(p <0.01), intrarenal CD3+/CD4+T cellsand TNF-α/IFN-γ produced by CD4+T cells were both significantlyup-regulated in flow cytometry(p <0.01). Similarly, the levels of CD3+andCD8+T cells were elevated in kidney biopsies evaluated by immunohistochemistry(p <0.01). Except the BG and Kw/Bw, the above mentionedparameters were all inhibited in MMF group compared with DM group(p<0.05).ConclusionMMF has an protective effect on diabetic nephropathy. The mechanisms may be explained by the inhibition of T lymphocytes infiltration and down-regulation of expression of inflammation factors in diabetic rats.SignificanceThe study shows that T cells accumulated in kidney tissue in STZ-induceddiabetic rats. the CD4+T cells can generate TNF-α、 IFN-γ, and the twocytokines highly expressed. This suggests that the accumulation of T cells in thepathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. At the same time, the study also foundthat MMF has an protective effect on diabetic nephropathy. The mechanismsmay be explained by the inhibition of T lymphocytes infiltration anddown-regulation of expression of inflammation factors in diabetic rats.