Effects of telmisartan on expression of intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecular-1 (VCAM-1) in glomeruli of diabetic rat

【Objective】To assess the effect of telmisartan on the protection against diabetic nephropathy and on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecular-1 (VCAM-1) in diabetic rat kidney. 【Methods】 The rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM) was produced by injection of streptozocin (STZ) 50 mg/kg after left nephrectomy. Eighteen rats were assigned to normal control (C) group, diabetic rat (DM) group, telmisartan treatment (R) group. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to examine the pathological changes of kidney and expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in the kidney of rats after 12 weeks.【Results】In comparison with normal group, the expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM -1 in DM and R groups were markedly increased (P 0.05). In comparison with DM group, telmisartan could significantly decrease the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1(P 0.05).【Conclusion】Telmisartan may play a protective role of the kidneys by downregulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, thus preventing the progression of diabetic nephropathy.