Leflunomide Podocalyxin Expression Of The Diabetic Rat Kidney

Objective To investigate the effect of leflunomide on the renal function and Podocalyxin Expression in Podocytes of diabetic kidney.Methods 48 fale Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups:control group, diabetes mellitus (DM) group, losartan treated group,leflunomide treated group (n= 12 respectively). Rats models were induced by streptozotocin (STZ) after right kidney had been excised. Then leflunomide (5mg/kg/d) and losartan (20mg/kg/d) were administrated in treatment groups. Levels of blood glucose,quantities of 24 hours urinary protein excretion were measured. All rats were executed at the end of 8th,12th week, levels of Serum creatinine (Scr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN), renal pathological changes have been examined and observed. Expression of podocalyxin was analyzed by immunohistochemical staining.Results(1) Levels of blood sugar in DM group and treated groups are higher significantly than control group. Between DM group and treated groups the change is not significant.(2) Compared with the control group,with the extenson of the course, there is proteinuria in DM group significantly(P<0.05). Urine protein, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen reduced significantly in treated groups compared with DM group (P<0.05).Between two treated groups,the change is not significant(P>0.05)(3) From histopathology observation the thickening of glomerular basementmembrane (GBM) of treated groups reduced significantly, compared with DM group, and mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition reduced.(4) Immunohistochemistry showed expression of podocalyxin decreased significantly in DM group. Compared with the DM group, podocalyxin increased in DM treated with leflunomide and losartan (P<0.05). The change of groups treated with leflunomide and losartan was not significant (P>0.05).Conclusion Leflunomide can regulate the expression of Podocalyxin and has protect effects on renal tissue of Diabetic rats.