TNF-α and IL-1β Promote Renal Podocyte Injury in T2DM Rats by Decreasing Glomerular VEGF/eNOS Expression Levels and Altering Hemodynamic Parameters

PURPOSE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious microvascular complication in those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Evidence confirms that serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the T2DM stage are proposed as prognostic markers for DN development, but it is unclear how they affect renal podocyte-associated nephrin and WT-1 expression. In the presence of podocyte injury, glomerular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and hemodynamic parameters are dysregulated. The current research aimed to clarify the relationship of TNF-α and IL-1β with podocyte injury by altering VEGF/eNOS expression and hemodynamic parameters. METHODS: A high-fat diet/streptozotocin-induced DN rat model was established. Serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were tracked in the pre-T2DM, T2DM and DN stages. In the DN stage, the mRNA and protein expression levels of renal TNF-α, IL-1β, VEGF, eNOS, nephrin and WT-1 were studied. Renal hemodynamic parameters, including peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic flow velocity and mean velocity were measured with a color Doppler ultrasound technique. RESULTS: Compared to those in the normal control (CTL) group, serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels increased significantly in the pre-T2DM stage (obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia), T2DM stage (hyperglycemia) and DN stage (abnormal renal functions) (all: P < 0.05) in the DN group. Serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels in the T2DM stage were significantly higher than those in the pre-T2DM stage (two: P < 0.05). Compared to the CTL group, renal nephrin, WT-1, TNF-α, IL-1β, eNOS and VEGF expression and hemodynamic parameters in the DN stage all showed significant differences separately (all: P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Increased serum and renal TNF-α and IL-1β levels played important roles in reducing renal nephrin and WT-1 expression levels, which may be related to the fact that the former affected renal VEGF/eNOS expression and blood flow parameters in the DN rats.