Author/Authors :
Derakhshanian, Hoda Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Nutrition - School of Medicine - Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran , Djazayery, Abolghassem Department of Community Nutrition - School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Javanbakht, Mohammad Hassan Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition - School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Eshraghian, Mohammad Reza Department of Biostatistics - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Mirshafiey, Abbas Department of Pathobiology - School of Public Health - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Zarei, Mahnaz Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition - School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Alvandi, Ehsan Alvandi Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition - School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran , Djalali, Ehsan Department of Veterinary - University Science and Research Branch of Islamic Azad , Iran , Djalali, Mahmoud Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition - School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Abstract :
Background:Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most important microvascular complications and a major
cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. This study was designed to investigate the effect of
vitamin D on the expression of three key genes involved in the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Methods: Twenty-four male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. The first group
served as control and the other two groups received intraperitoneal injections of 45 mg/kg STZ to develop
diabetes. The groups were treated for four weeks either with placebo or two vitamin D injections of 20,000
IU/kg. Serum glucose, insulin, and HbA1c levels, and AGE cellular receptor (RAGE), aldose reductase (AR)
and glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT) gene expression were assessed in kidney tissue
at the end of the experiment.
Results:Vitamin D treatment resulted in a significant increase in insulin concentration, which could improve
hyperglycaemia in diabetic rats. Serum HbA1c decreased slightly but insignificantly following the vitamin D
injections. In addition, expression of GFAT, a key regulatory enzyme in the hexosamine pathway, was
significantly reduced following vitamin D administration.
Conclusions: Vitamin D may reduce diabetic nephropathy not only by improving blood glucose and insulin
levels, but also by modulating hexosamine pathways in kidney.
Keywords :
Diabetes Mellitus , Hexosamine pathway , Nephropathy , Vitamin D.
