Treatment with 1, 25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Preserves Glomerular Slit Diaphragm-Associated Protein Expression in Experimental Glomerulonephritis

• Published in: International journal of immunopathology and pharmacology Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 779 - 790
• Main Authors: Migliori, M., Giovannini, L., Panichi, V., Filippi, C., Taccola, D., Origlia, N., Mannari, C., Camussi, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2005
• Subjects: Animals; Calcitriol - therapeutic use; Desmin - biosynthesis; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - drug therapy; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - metabolism; Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative - pathology; Kidney Glomerulus - drug effects; Kidney Glomerulus - metabolism; Kidney Glomerulus - pathology; Membrane Proteins - biosynthesis; Phosphoproteins - biosynthesis; Polymers - metabolism; Proteinuria - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Tissue Fixation; Vitamins - therapeutic use; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; experimental glomerulonephritis; nephrin; 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3; proteinuria
• ISSN: 0394-6320; 2058-7384
• DOI: 10.1177/039463200501800422

In this study, we investigated the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on proteinuria and on the alteration of slit diaphragm-associated proteins induced by anti-Thy 1.1 in Wistar rats. Four groups of animals were studied: group I, anti-Thy 1.1 treated rats; group II, anti-Thy1.1 treated group that at day 2, after the onset of overt proteinuria, started the treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3; group III, normal control rats injected with vehicle alone; group IV, rats that received only 1,25(OH)2D3. At day 2, in group I and II, before the administration of 1,25(OH)2D3, protein excretion was significantly increased when compared to controls. Overt proteinuria was maintained until day 14 in group I whereas in group II protein excretion was significantly reduced from day 3 to day 14. Moreover, treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3 abrogated podocytes injury, detected as desmin expression and loss of nephrin and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), two slit diaphragm-associated proteins, and glomerular polyanion staining, that were observed in group I. In conclusion, these results suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 administrated with a therapeutic regiment may revert proteinuria, counteracting glomerular podocyte injury.