Effect of pioglitazone on liver and MCP-I expression in type 2 diabetic rats

Objective: To observe the effect of pioglitazone en monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) level in te serum and urine, an MCP-1 expression in the liver, and on liver constitution and function in type 2 diabetic (DM2) rats. Methods: The normal control group (NC group) fed with normal diet. Te model of DM2 rat was established by fed with high-sucrose-high-fat diet and injected low dose of strep tozotocin (STZ). For the pioglitazone (PIO) group, the DM2 rats received PIO intervention. After 8 weeks, blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin Alc(HbAlc), biochemical regular indices, and liver pathological changes were examined, the serum and urinary MCP-1 index, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), and urinary retinol binding protein (URBP) were also detected. Results: Compared with the NC group, fasting blood glucose and HbAlc were obviously increased in the diabetes group (DM group). There was no significant difference between the DM group and the PIO group. The ACR, URBP, UMCP-1, and the degree of hepatic fibrosis in the DM and the PIO group were higher than those in the NC group (P < 0.05). Whereas the four above mentioned indicators were notably lower in the PIO group compared with the DM group. The UMCP-1 positively correlated with ACR, URBP. Pathological results showed that the extent of liver disease in the PIO group was significantly reduced and MCP-1 expression was decreased, compared with that in the DM group. Conclusion: Pioglitazone has protective effect on the kidney in type 2 diabetic rat, which is independent on the hypoglycemic effect. It may be related to the inhibitory expression MCP-expression and synthesis. (authors)