Influence of mesenchymal stem cells on expression of AQP1 and AQP2 in rats with nephropathy induced by adriamycin.

This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on adriamycin nephrosis, and the potential mechanism. The rat experimental nephropathy model was established by unilateral nephrectomy combined repeated injecting adriamycin (ADR). Thirty adriamycin nephrosis rats were randomly divided into three groups, including ADR (n=10), MSCs transplantation through peripheral veins groups (M-V, n=10), and MSCs transplantation through right renal artery groups (M-A, n=10), and there was another normal control group (N, n=10). This study lasted 8 weeks, 24 hours urine was collected through simple metabolic cage to measure urinary volume and urine protein quantitation in 24 hours. The levels of plasma albumin (ALB), sodium were measured by biochemical analysis. The expressions of AQP1-2 were measured by immuno-histochemistry assay. Kidney medulla ultramicroscopic structure was observed by TEM. The results indicated that the ALB and 24 h urinary volume have significant increased in M-V and M-A group compared to the ADR group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the serum sodium and urine protein quantitation in 24 hours were decreased in M-V and M-A group compared to ADR group (P<0.05). Protein expression of AQP1-2 had been remarkably decreased (P<0.05). It showed degenerative changes of kidney ultra microscopic structures of the ADR rats, while MSCs transplantation could significantly improve the damage. In conclusion, in adriamycin nephropathy rats, MSCs transplantation exerts its therapeutic effects by decrease urinary albumin excretion, increase ALB, decrease sodium and the expression of AQP1-2 in renal tubules.