Mesenchymal stem cells prevent the progression of diabetic nephropathy by improving mitochondrial function in tubular epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT: The administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was shown to attenuate overt as well as early diabetic nephropathy in rodents, but the underlying mechanism of this beneficial effect is largely unknown. Inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are major pathogenic factors in diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we found that the repeated administration of MSCs prevents albuminuria and injury to tubular epithelial cells (TECs), an important element in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, by improving mitochondrial function. The expression of M1 macrophage markers was significantly increased in diabetic kidneys compared with that in control kidneys. Interestingly, the expression of arginase-1 (Arg1), an important M2 macrophage marker, was reduced in diabetic kidneys and increased by

SUBMITTER: Lee SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6802630 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature