The effects of anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic DNA vaccination on diabetic nephropathy in rats

Hum Gene Ther. 2012 Feb;23(2):158-66. doi: 10.1089/hum.2011.030. Epub 2012 Jan 26.

Abstract

Inflammation and angiogenesis play a crucial role in the pathomechanism of diabetic nephropathy. Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP) is a key regulator of the immune system in kidneys, and its inhibition with a dominant-negative mutant lacking the N-terminal amino acids 2-8 (7ND) reduces renal fibrosis. Angiomotin (Amot) is a novel angiogenesis modulator. We studied the effects of inhibition of Amot and MCP using DNA vaccination on incipient diabetic nephropathy in rats. Plasmid DNA (with either 7ND or human Amot) was electroporated twice into hind-limb muscles of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus. Sham-electroporated diabetic rats and healthy animals served as controls. After 4 months, renal histology and biochemical analyses were performed. In sham-electroporated diabetic rats, glomerular histology revealed pathological changes. 7ND and Amot treatments reduced glomerular hypertrophy and periodic acid-Schiff positivity. In both treated groups, the expression of profibrotic (transforming growth factor-β, collagen 1), proinflammatory (interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), and proangiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor) genes in the renal cortex was lower than in the diabetic group without treatment. The mentioned renoprotective effects could be mediated via higher total antioxidant capacity and improved glycemic control. Anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory DNA vaccination ameliorates the progression of glomerular pathology in an animal model of diabetic nephropathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiomotins
  • Animals
  • Chemokine CCL2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Chemokine CCL2 / genetics
  • Collagen / biosynthesis
  • Collagen / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / complications
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / complications
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / pathology
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / prevention & control*
  • Electroporation
  • Fibrosis
  • Gene Expression
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Interleukin-6 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-6 / genetics
  • Kidney Glomerulus / blood supply*
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / prevention & control
  • Plasmids
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / biosynthesis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Vaccination
  • Vaccines, DNA / administration & dosage*
  • Vaccines, DNA / genetics
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • Amot protein, rat
  • Angiomotins
  • Ccl2 protein, rat
  • Chemokine CCL2
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Interleukin-6
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Vaccines, DNA
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • vascular endothelial growth factor A, rat
  • Collagen