Abstract
Maprotiline is an antidepressant that has been found to cause hypoglycemia.
However, the effect of maprotiline on diabetic nephropathy (DN) has not been
investigated. Here, we explored the effect of maprotiline on human renal
glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) in response to high glucose (HG)
stimulation. We found that maprotiline attenuated HG-induced oxidative stress in
HRGECs with decreased reactive oxygen species production and increased
superoxide dismutase activity. Maprotiline repressed the HG-induced expression
of cyclooxygenases 2 at both mRNA and protein levels in HRGECs. The increased
thromboxane B2 level and decreased 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α level
induced by HG were significantly attenuated by maprotiline treatment.
Maprotiline also prevented the HG-induced increase in the permeability of HRGECs
and the decrease in the zonula occludens-1 expression and downregulated
HG-induced increase in the expression of protein kinase C-α
(PKC-α) in HRGECs. This protective effect of maprotiline on HG-induced
HRGECs dysfunction was abolished by overexpression of PKC-α. In
conclusion, maprotiline displayed a protective effect on HG-challenged HRGECs,
which was mediated by the regulation of PKC-α. These findings provide
further evidence for the potential use of maprotiline for the treatment of
DN.
Key words
Maprotiline - diabetic nephropathy (DN) - oxidative stress - inflammation - permeability - protein kinase C (PKC)