Effect of triptolide on podocyte transdifferentiation in high glucose environment

Objective To investigate the effect of triptolide( TP) on podocyte transdifferentiation in high glucose environment and the possible mechanism. Methods The mice immortalized podocytes cultured in vitro were divided into the normal group( D-glucose,5. 5 mmol / L),high glucose group( D-glucose 30 mmol / L),low dose of TP group( D-glucose 30mmol / L + TP 3 ng / mL),high dose of TP group( D-glucose 30 mmol / L + TP 10 ng / mL) and mannitol group( D-glucose 5. 5 mmol / L + mannitol 24. 5 mmol / L). The mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad3,Smad7,Ssynaptopodin and Ddesmin in each group were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blotting. Results The expression of Smad3 and Desmin in the high dose of TP group and low dose of TP group was lower but the expressions of Smad7 and Synaptopodin were higher than that of the high glucose group( all P 0. 05). Conclusion TP can inhibit transdifferentation in the podocytes under high glucose condition,whose mechanism may be that TP regulates the expression of Smad3 and Smad7 in the levels of transcription and protein.