Saxagliptin attenuates glomerular podocyte injury by increasing the expression of renal nephrin and podocin in type 2 diabetic rats

To observe the effects of saxagliptin on the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase 38 (p38MAPK), nephrin and podocin in renal tissue in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of its renal protection. Forty-eight male Sprague–Dawley rats were used for the study and divided into four different groups: normal controls (Group NC), DM controls (Group DM), DM + glibenclamide (Group Su) and DM + saxagliptin (Group Sa). The day drug administration started was defined as week 0. After 12 weeks, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr) in serum were detected, simultaneously albumin and creatinine in urine were measured, respectively, and then urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) was calculated. The pathological morphology of kidney tissue in different groups was observed, and the expression of nephrin and podocin mRNA and protein in kidney tissue were detected. (1) After 12 weeks, FBG and HbA1c in Group Su and Group Sa were significantly lower than those in Group DM (both P