TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of the combination of an angiotensin II antagonist with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in experimental diabetes
AU - Qin, Jie
AU - Zhang, Zhili
AU - Liu, Jie
AU - Sun, Liao
AU - Hu, Ling
AU - Cooper, Mark E.
AU - Cao, Zemin
PY - 2003/8
Y1 - 2003/8
N2 - Background. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl conenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors have been shown to confer renoprotection. However, the renal effects of the combination of an AT1 receptor antagonist and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in experimental diabetes are unknown. Methods. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin in Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were randomly treated with losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, or simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, as well as the combination of both for eight weeks. Albumin excretion rate (AER) and plasma concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured. Renal injury was evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were performed. Results. Increased AER in diabetic rats was attenuated by treatment with either losartan or simvastatin and further reduced by the combination of the two. Elevated plasma concentrations of BUN and creatinine were only reduced by the combination. There was no significant difference in plasma concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides between control and diabetic rats and neither was influenced by losartan or simvastatin. Kidney pathologic injury was attenuated by losartan, but not simvastatin, compared to diabetic animals. Overexpression of TGFβ1 and VEGF was observed in the glomeruli of diabetic rats and was attenuated by losartan, simvastatin, or the combination of both to a similar level. Conclusion. The combination of an angiotensin antagonist with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor confers superiority over monotherapies on renal function, as assessed by prevention of albuminuria and rise in plasma BUN and creatinine. However, no advantage of combination therapy was seen with respect to attenuating renal structural injury and renal expression of TGFβ and VEGF in experimental diabetes.
AB - Background. Angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonists and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl conenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors have been shown to confer renoprotection. However, the renal effects of the combination of an AT1 receptor antagonist and an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor in experimental diabetes are unknown. Methods. Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin in Wistar rats. Diabetic rats were randomly treated with losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, or simvastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, as well as the combination of both for eight weeks. Albumin excretion rate (AER) and plasma concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, and triglycerides were measured. Renal injury was evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were performed. Results. Increased AER in diabetic rats was attenuated by treatment with either losartan or simvastatin and further reduced by the combination of the two. Elevated plasma concentrations of BUN and creatinine were only reduced by the combination. There was no significant difference in plasma concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides between control and diabetic rats and neither was influenced by losartan or simvastatin. Kidney pathologic injury was attenuated by losartan, but not simvastatin, compared to diabetic animals. Overexpression of TGFβ1 and VEGF was observed in the glomeruli of diabetic rats and was attenuated by losartan, simvastatin, or the combination of both to a similar level. Conclusion. The combination of an angiotensin antagonist with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor confers superiority over monotherapies on renal function, as assessed by prevention of albuminuria and rise in plasma BUN and creatinine. However, no advantage of combination therapy was seen with respect to attenuating renal structural injury and renal expression of TGFβ and VEGF in experimental diabetes.
KW - Albuminuria
KW - Angiotensin II antagonist
KW - Diabetes
KW - Statins
KW - TGFβ1
KW - VEGF
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0038119554&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2003.00127.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1523-1755.2003.00127.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 12846751
AN - SCOPUS:0038119554
SN - 0085-2538
VL - 64
SP - 565
EP - 571
JO - Kidney International
JF - Kidney International
IS - 2
ER -