ft011 and Diabetic-Nephropathies

A key morphological feature of diabetic nephropathy is the accumulation and deposition of glycogen in renal tubular cells, known as Armanni-Ebstein lesions. While this observation has been consistently reported for many years, the molecular basis of these lesions remains unclear.. Using biochemical and histochemical methods, we measured glycogen concentration, glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase enzyme activities, and mRNA expression and protein levels of glycogenin in kidney lysates from control and transgenic (mRen-2)27 rat models of diabetes that had been treated with and without a new anti-fibrotic agent, FT011.. Diabetic nephropathy was associated with increased glycogen content, increased glycogen synthase activity and decreased glycogen phosphorylase activity. Glycogenin, the key protein responsible for initiating the synthesis of each glycogen particle, had very high levels in the diabetic kidney together with increased mRNA expression compared with control kidneys. Treatment with FT011 did not change glycogen synthase or glycogen phosphorylase enzyme activities but prevented both glycogenin mRNA synthesis and accumulation of Armanni-Ebstein lesions in the diabetic kidney.. Armanni-Ebstein lesions found in diabetic nephropathy are due to aberrant glycogenin protein levels and mRNA expression, providing an explanation for the increased glycogen concentration found within the diabetic kidney. FT011 treatment in diabetic rats reduced glycogenin levels and, subsequently, renal glycogen concentration.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Caffeic Acids; Diabetic Nephropathies; Enzyme Activation; Female; Glucosyltransferases; Glycogen; Glycogen Phosphorylase; Glycogen Synthase; Glycoproteins; ortho-Aminobenzoates; Rats; Rats, Transgenic

Tranilast is an anti-inflammatory drug in use for asthma and atopic dermatitis. In studies over the last decade it has been revealed that tranilast can reduce fibrosis occurring in the kidney during diabetes, thereby delaying and/or preventing kidney dysfunction. We report a structure-activity study aimed at optimizing the antifibrotic activity of tranilast. A series of cinnamoyl anthranilates were prepared and assessed for their ability to prevent TGF-beta-stimulated production of collagen in cultured renal mesangial cells. We reveal derivatives with improved potency and reduced cellular toxicity relative to tranilast. 3-Methoxy-4-propargyloxycinnamoyl anthranilate reduces albuminuria in a rat model of progressive diabetes, and thus has potential as an innovative treatment for diabetic nephropathy.

Topics: Animals; Caffeic Acids; Cinnamates; Collagen; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Diabetic Nephropathies; Fibrosis; Kidney; ortho-Aminobenzoates; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley