Comparison Of Efficacy Of Mycophenolate Mofetil And Leflumide In Treatment Of Diabetic Nephropathy In Rats

Objective：To compare the curative effect of mycophenolate mofetil（MMF）and leflumide(LEF) in rats with diabetic nephropathy(DN).Methods：Forty health male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups,the normal control group (group N), diabetic nephropathy group (group D), diabetesnephropathy+MMF group (group M), Group D, group M, group L were given highsugar and fat diet for4weeks, then intraperitoneal injection streptozotocin (40mg/kg/d) to preparation diabetic nephropathy (DN) model.diabetic nephropathy+LEF group (group L).MMF at10mg/(kg d)and LEF at5mg/(kg d) were given bygavage to rats in groups M and L,respectively, for total8weeks. The body weight,blood glucose, serum creatinine, urine creatinine,24hours urinary protein weremeasured at0,4and8th week(s),the endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr) at theend of8th week. The kidney tissues were pathologically examined and pathologicalscore was detected by using immunohistochemistry.Results：(1) The24-hours urinary protein had no obvious change at4weeks inthe group M but significantly decreased at8weeks (P <0.05); it began to decreaseat4weeks in the group L (P <0.05),and further declined at8weeks (P <0.05);(2) theCcr experienced no significant changes at each time point in both groups M andL.There was no significant difference between the two groups (P <0.05);(3) therewas no statistically significant difference in the pathological score between groups Mand D.But the score was significantly decreased in the group L when compared withthe groups M and D (P <0.05);(4) the expression of VCAM-1was significantlyreduced in the group M as compared with the group D (P <0.05).But it showed nosignificiant change in the group L when compared with the group D.Conclusion：LEF outperforms MMF in reducing proteinuria and improving therenal pathological changes,but MMF has more advantages in controllingmicrovascular lesion.