Effects Of Pioglitazone On The Serum AGEs And RANTES In Patients With Diabetic Nephropathy

Objectives: To investigate the effect of pioglitazone on the serum AGE-P and RANTES in the patients.with diabetic nephropathy.Methods: 44 type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (UMA/creatinine 30-300μg·mg^-1) were included, and treated with pioglitazone or glipizide, respectively. The serum RANTES concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum AGE-P concentration was measured by flow injection assay. The values were analyzed by ANOVA.Results: 1) The levels of AGE-P in the pioglitazone group were significantly lower than those in the glipizide group (3 months: 19.81±2.54 vs 23.40±1.16μ·mol^-1, P<0.05; 6 months: 16.0±2.29 vs 21.24±2.35μ·mol^-1, P<0.001).2) The levels of RANTES in the pioglitazone group were lower than those in the glipizide group (3 months: 570.80±188.06 vs 833.45±81.67 pg·ml^-1, P<0.05; 6 months: 445.75±148.65 vs 757.17±129.77 pg·ml^-1, P<0.05) as well.3) The levels of△U MA were correlated positively with the levels of△AGE-P (r=0.81, P<0.001) and the levels of△RANTES(r=0.77, P<0.001). The levels of△RANTES was also correlated positively with the levels of△AGE-P (r=0.84, P<0.001).Conclusions: Pioglitazone reduces the serum AGE-P and RANTES levels elevated in the patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy. It suggests that pioglitazone might play the role of reno-protection via suppression of the AGEs and RANTES.