Activation of NF-κB and AP-1 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Isolated from Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy

Background:We evaluated the role of oxidative stress in diabetic nephropathy by measuring intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and redox-sensitive transcription factors in isolated peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC).Methods: From 66 diabetic patients with or without diabetic nephropathy (Group III and II, respectively) and 49 normal control subjects (Group I), spontaneous and stimulated ROS levels, activities of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), activator protein-1 (AP-1), and specificity protein1 (Sp1) in PBMC, urinary and PBMC TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1), and 24-hour urinary albumin excretion (UAE) were measured.Results: Spontaneous ROS was significantly higher in group III and II than group I (60.7 ± 3.3 vs. 60.0 ± 3.0 vs. 41.1 ± 2.4%, respectively), and stimulated ROS were significantly higher in Group III compared to Group II (Increment of H2O2-induced ROS production: 21.8 ± 2.2 vs. 11.1 ± 2.0%, respectively; increment of PMA-induced ROS production 23.5 ± 4.5 vs. 21.6 ± 2.2%, respectively).The activities of NF-κB and AP-1, but not of Sp1, were significantly higher in Group III than in Group II (2.53 vs. 2.0 vs. 1.43-fold, respectively).Both PBMC-and urinary TGF-β1 levels were higher in Group III than Group II (3.23 ± 0.39 vs. 1.99 ± 0.68 ng/mg in PBMCs, 16.88 ± 6.84 vs. 5.61 ± 1.57 ng/mL in urine, both respectively), and they were significantly correlated with activities of NF-κB and AP-1 and 24-hour UAE. Conclusions: Increased intracellular ROS generation inPBMCs of diabetic patients is involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy through activation of NF-κB and AP-1, but not Sp1, and increased expression of TGF-β1.(J Kor Diabetes Assoc 31:261~273, 2007) Key Words: AP-1,