Extract of Rhizoma Polygonum cuspidatum reduces early renal podocyte injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and its active compound emodin inhibits methylglyoxal-mediated glycation of proteins

Podocyte injury contributes to renal damage and, eventually, to the occurrence of proteinuria in diabetic nephropathy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an ethanol extract from Rhizoma Polygonum cuspidatum (P. cuspidatum) on proteinuria and podocyte injury, and elucidate the underlying mechanism for streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy. The protective effects of P. cuspidatum extract (PCE) on renal podocytes in STZ-induced diabetic rats were also investigated. PCE (100 or 350 mg/kg/day) was administered to STZ-induced diabetic rats for 16 weeks, and blood glucose levels, body weight and proteinuria were measured. A double labeling technique with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay was performed and synaptopodin expression was observed. In addition, cleaved caspase-3, methylglyoxal (MGO) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) expression levels were measured. STZ-induced diabetic rats developed hyperglycemia and proteinuria. Increased apoptosis of the podocytes and increased cleaved caspase-3, MGO and 8-OHdG expression levels, as well as decreased synaptopodin expression were detected in the glomeruli of STZ-induced diabetic rats. However, treatment with PCE for 16 weeks restored protein levels to normal, and reduced podocyte loss and apoptosis. Levels of caspase-3 and MGO expression, as well as oxidative stress were ameliorated by PCE treatment. In addition, emodin, a biologically active ingredient of PCE, exerted an MGO scavenging effect and inhibited MGO-derived advanced glycation end-product formation. These findings indicate that PCE may be administered to prevent proteinuria and podocyte loss in STZ-induced diabetic rats partly by inhibiting podocyte apoptosis and cleaved caspase-3 expression, and by restoring the balance of oxidative stress and MGO expression.