Glomerular Basement Membrane Selective Permeability in Short-term Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

In diabetes, the glomerular basement membrane undergoes thickening and structural alterations with loss of glomerular permselectivity properties. However, the onset of the alterations at early phases of diabetes is unclear. Aiming to determine the functional and structural alterations of the glomerular wall in the early stages of diabetes, we have studied the distribution of endogenous circulating albumin and type IV collagen in the glomerular basement membrane, using the immunocytochemical approach. The streptozotocin-injected hyperglycemic rat was our animal model. Renal tissues were examined after 10 days, 2, 4 and 6 months of hyperglycemia. Upon immunogold labelings, changes in the glomerular permeability to endogenous albumin were found altered as early as upon ten days of hyperglycemia. In contrast, no structural modifications were detected at this time point. Indeed, glomerular basement membrane thickening and an altered type IV collagen labeling distribution were only observed after four months of hyperglycemia, suggesting that functional alterations take place early in diabetes prior to any structural modification. In order to evaluate the reversibility of the glomerular alterations, two-month-old diabetic animals were treated with insulin. These animals showed a significant restoring of their glomerular permselectivity. Our results suggest a link between glycemic levels and alteration of glomerular permeability in early stages of diabetes, probably through high levels of glycated serum proteins.     

Effects of Aminoguanidine on Lipid and Protein Oxidation in Diabetic Rat Kidneys

Nonenzymatic glycation of tissue and plasma proteins may stimulate the production of oxidant and carbonyl stress in diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) on lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and nitric oxide (NO) release in diabetic rat kidneys. After induction of diabetes with streptozotocin, female Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups. Group DAG (n=9) rats were given AG hydrogen carbonate (1 g/L) in drinking water and group D (n=8) was diabetic control rats given only tap water. Group H (n=8) was followed as healthy controls. At the end of an 8 week period, NO release, lipid and protein oxidation were determined in kidney tissues. NO release was significantly lower in diabetic rats compared with healthy controls (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation was significantly high in group D (3.9 ± 0.3 nmol MDA/g tissue) compared with the group DAG (2.6 ± 0.1 nmol MDA/g tissue, p<0.01) and group H (2.4 ± 0.2 nmol MDA/g tissue). Protein oxidation was significantly higher in diabetics than healthy controls (563.8 ± 23.9, 655.8 ± 7.2 , 431.5 ± 8.8 mmol carbonyl / g tissue for group DAG, D and H, respectively, p< 0.05). A positive correlation between albuminuria and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels (r= 0.54,p<0.005) and carbonyl content (r=0.70, p<0.0005) in kidney homogenate were observed. Although AG treatment had no effect on NO release, it significantly decreased lipid peroxidation in diabetic rat cortices. Consequently increased lipid peroxidation -as well as- protein oxidation could be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic albuminuria.     

Hydrogen Sulfide Alleviates Diabetic Nephropathy in a Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rat Model

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) plays critical roles in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney diseases. This study was designed to investigate whether H₂S has protective effects against diabetic nephropathy. Diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and administrated with H₂S donor NaHS for 12 weeks. Rat glomerular mesangial cells were pretreated with NaHS or MAPK inhibitors (U0126, SP600125, and SB203580) prior to high glucose exposure, and cell proliferation was determined. Our findings suggest that H₂S can improve renal function and attenuate glomerular basement membrane thickening, mesangial matrix deposition, and renal interstitial fibrosis in diabetic rats. H₂S was found to reduce high glucose-induced oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and to exert anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-κB signaling. In addition, H₂S reduced high glucose-induced mesangial cell proliferation by blockade of MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, H₂S was also found to inhibit the renin-angiotensin system in diabetic kidney. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that H₂S alleviates the development of diabetic nephropathy by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammation, reducing mesangial cell proliferation, and inhibiting renin-angiotensin system activity.     

Large Scale Preparation of Bovine Renal Glomerular Basement Membrane in the Presence of Protease Inhibitors

A method is described for the isolation of large quantities of basement membrane from bovine renal glomeruli under conditions which minimize or prevent degradation by tissue-associated proteases. The method incorporates the use of moderately-high concentrations of the protease inhibitors: ethylene-diamine tetraacetic acid, ε-amino caproic acid, N-ethylmaieimide, and diiso-propylfluorophosphate; and the maintenance of a temperature of 0-4°C throughout the procedure. Glomeruli preparations are isolated by a modified sieving technique and are routinely of purity greater than 97%. Under optimum conditions, three to four grams of basement membrane can be isolated under safe and rapid conditions in one week.     

Mechanical Stretch on Human Skin Equivalents Increases the Epidermal Thickness and Develops the Basement Membrane

All previous reports concerning the effect of stretch on cultured skin cells dealt with experiments on epidermal keratinocytes or dermal fibroblasts alone. The aim of the present study was to develop a system that allows application of stretch stimuli to human skin equivalents (HSEs), prepared by coculturing of these two types of cells. In addition, this study aimed to analyze the effect of a stretch on keratinization of the epidermis and on the basement membrane. HSEs were prepared in a gutter-like structure created with a porous silicone sheet in a silicone chamber. After 5-day stimulation with stretching, HSEs were analyzed histologically and immunohistologically. Stretch-stimulated HSEs had a thicker epidermal layer and expressed significantly greater levels of laminin 5 and collagen IV/VII in the basal layer compared with HSEs not subjected to stretch stimulation. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the structure of the basement membrane was more developed in HSEs subjected to stretching. Our model may be relevant for extrapolating the effect of a stretch on the skin in a state similar to an in vivo system. This experimental system may be useful for analysis of the effects of stretch stimuli on skin properties and wound healing and is also expected to be applicable to an in vitro model of a hypertrophic scar in the future.     

延长糖尿病模型大鼠生存期对糖尿病视网膜病变的影响

目的延长糖尿病模型大鼠生存期,动态观察糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)的形成和发展过程。方法雄性SD大鼠70只,随机分成对照组(20只)和模型组(50只),采用链脲佐菌素(STZ)60 mg/(kg.bw)体重腹腔1次注射造模,分别于69、、12月时处死取眼球,采用视网膜微血管消化铺片技术观察糖尿病视网膜病变的微血管形态学改变。结果糖尿病大鼠DR样病变随着病程的延长病变呈多样性改变,以12月DR出现的小动脉硬化尤为严重。结论糖尿病大鼠生存期的延长对糖尿病视网膜病变的研究有着积极的意义。     

Tuning Membrane Thickness Fluctuations in Model Lipid Bilayers

Membrane thickness fluctuations have been associated with a variety of critical membrane phenomena, such as cellular exchange, pore formation, and protein binding, which are intimately related to cell functionality and effective pharmaceuticals. Therefore, understanding how these fluctuations are controlled can remarkably impact medical applications involving selective macromolecule binding and efficient cellular drug intake. Interestingly, previous reports on single-component bilayers show almost identical thickness fluctuation patterns for all investigated lipid tail-lengths, with similar temperature-independent membrane thickness fluctuation amplitude in the fluid phase and a rapid suppression of fluctuations upon transition to the gel phase. Presumably, in vivo functions require a tunability of these parameters, suggesting that more complex model systems are necessary. In this study, we explore lipid tail-length mismatch as a regulator for membrane fluctuations. Unilamellar vesicles of an equimolar mixture of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and distearoylphosphatidylcholine molecules, with different tail-lengths and melting transition temperatures, are used as a model system for this next level of complexity. Indeed, this binary system exhibits a significant response of membrane dynamics to thermal variations. The system also suggests a decoupling of the amplitude and the relaxation time of the membrane thickness fluctuations, implying a potential for independent control of these two key parameters.     

Urinary Protein Profiles in a Rat Model for Diabetic Complications

Diabetes mellitus is estimated to affect ∼24 million people in the United States and more than 150 million people worldwide. There are numerous end organ complications of diabetes, the onset of which can be delayed by early diagnosis and treatment. Although assays for diabetes are well founded, tests for its complications lack sufficient specificity and sensitivity to adequately guide these treatment options. In our study, we employed a streptozotocin-induced rat model of diabetes to determine changes in urinary protein profiles that occur during the initial response to the attendant hyperglycemia (e.g. the first two months) with the goal of developing a reliable and reproducible method of analyzing multiple urine samples as well as providing clues to early markers of disease progression. After filtration and buffer exchange, urinary proteins were digested with a specific protease, and the relative amounts of several thousand peptides were compared across rat urine samples representing various times after administration of drug or sham control. Extensive data analysis, including imputation of missing values and normalization of all data was followed by ANOVA analysis to discover peptides that were significantly changing as a function of time, treatment and interaction of the two variables. The data demonstrated significant differences in protein abundance in urine before observable pathophysiological changes occur in this animal model and as function of the measured variables. These included decreases in relative abundance of major urinary protein precursor and increases in pro-alpha collagen, the expression of which is known to be regulated by circulating levels of insulin and/or glucose. Peptides from these proteins represent potential biomarkers, which can be used to stage urogenital complications from diabetes. The expression changes of a pro-alpha 1 collagen peptide was also confirmed via selected reaction monitoring.Diabetic nephropathy (DNP)¹ accounts for ∼44% of new cases of end stage renal disease (ESRD) (1). This high morbidity is the result of the impact of a growing population and longer life expectancy. With an increase in the prevalence of DM and a corresponding reduction in the mortality associated with both type 1 and type 2 DM, patients are living longer and are therefore at higher risk to develop complications such as nephropathy (2). Moreover, Type 1 DM patients who progress to ESRD have a substantial risk of mortality with estimated annual health care costs in the United States to be approximately $1.9 billion (3, 4). Two key therapies for the prevention and management of ESRD are aggressive glycemic control and blood pressure regulation (5, 6). Early intervention is essential in reducing the severity and course of this complication (6), and changes in urine biomarkers have historically been used to diagnose and monitor disease progression. In addition, urine represents a desirable matrix in which to detect biomarkers of nephropathy as urinary protein excretion profiles are reflective of functional changes within the kidney, such as glomerular filtration rate. Clinical determinations of urinary total protein and urinary albumin excretion are commonly used measurements to monitor and/or determine the onset of diabetic nephropathy. Unfortunately, these measurements often lead to improper diagnoses for at risk DM patients (7, 8). Therefore, new prognostic indicators are required to accurately target these patients for therapeutic intervention earlier in the course of the disease as well as identify patients who are unlikely to progress, as therapy may be of little or no benefit to them.Utilizing experimental models to study the pathophysiological changes that occur as function of disease progression has provided an approach for biomarker discovery. In diabetes, animal models have been widely used in the investigation of the progression of diabetes complications such as nephropathy. Research conducted on the association between hyperglycemia and microvascular disease in diabetes as well as the study of the effect of extracellular matrix protein expression on changes in morphology in the diabetic kidney are two such examples (9). In addition, these models have assisted in developing appropriate clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of these complications. One such example is the use of anti-hypertensive treatment regimes in genetically hypertensive rats; these have examined whether early intervention may be renoprotective and therefore delay or prevent the onset of diabetic nephropathy (10–12).STZ-induced hyperglycemia in rodents is the most extensively studied model of diabetic nephropathy and associated complications (9, 13). Hyperglycemia occurs in this model because of the toxin''s destruction of pancreatic Beta-islet cells, which are essential to the production of insulin. STZ-induced hyperglycemia is associated with reliable and consistent structural and functional deficits in specific urogenital organ function (i.e. kidney and bladder). Increased glomerular filtration and hypertrophy, as well as increased urgency and morphology changes, are structural and functional abnormalities that have been observed in the kidney and bladder, respectively, in both in humans and the STZ rat model (14–19).Currently, there are two primary methods used to monitor disease progression in diabetes. The measurement of urinary albumin excretion rates and total protein concentration are routinely used to monitor disease progression as they reflect structural and functional changes in the kidney. Measurements of albumin by immunochemical assays and size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography are routinely employed (7). However, urine consists of a multitude of proteins, many of which are also reflective of pathophysiological changes because of DM urogenital complications (20–23). Proteomics provides a powerful approach for the detection of urinary protein changes as a result of disease, and multiple proteomic techniques are available in large scale protein profiling to discover new biomarkers (24–26). To date, proteomic strategies for biomarker discovery in urine have primarily included top-down approaches, for example two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with mass spectrometry and/or surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) analyses (27–30). In addition a number of studies using capillary electrophoresis mass spectrometry, which have a number of advantages for analysis of urine, have been successfully carried out (31–33). While these approaches can easily detect and quantify a variety of proteinaceous species including isoforms, posttranslational modifications, or degradation products, other methods could be used to expand the number of proteins that are both quantified and identified providing an expanded set of biological targets to understand the complications of disease and its progression. Recent advances in both chromatography and mass spectrometry have enabled bottom-up approaches that identify and quantify at the peptide level (34–36). One advantage of bottom-up proteomics is increased overall proteome coverage. Moreover, most bottom-up methods provide both qualitative and quantitative data in a single run, and quantifying at the peptide level leads directly into a bottom-up confirmation/validation analysis thereby avoiding the peptide selection step in this procedure. Approaches to bottom-up proteomics include specific peptide labeling or label-free analysis. Specific labeling approaches such as isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) and ¹⁸O employ differential stable isotope labeling strategies that create specific mass tags for different samples, which are mixed and then identified and quantified using mass spectrometry (37). The utility of these techniques is that they accommodate a wide range of pre-fractionation strategies thereby improving proteome coverage.The label-free approach capitalizes on the highly reproducible chromatography and high mass accuracy available in current LC/MS systems. This method observes all detectable peptides and if interrogated by MS/MS their corresponding fragment ions. This approach quantifies a peptide by its intensity and groups each peptide across individual samples based on its accurate mass and retention time (38, 39). These intensities associated with specific mass and retention time values are organized into peptide array tables that may be further processed using statistical techniques that accommodate high-dimensional data. As with other bottom-up approaches, this method is also amenable to pre-fractionation strategies, but unlike labeled approaches, the removal of chemical or metabolic labeling steps simplifies the overall approach.Here we use a comparative label-free LC/MS/MS approach to identify and rank candidate biomarkers of urogenital complications from an STZ rat model of diabetes. We describe further technical validation of our approach by confirming the changes observed with the putative biomarker, pro-alpha (2) with an alternative method: selected reaction monitoring (SRM).     

The Accumulation of VEGFA in the Glomerular Basement Membrane and Its Relationship with Podocyte Injury and Proteinuria in Alport Syndrome

The pathogenesis of proteinuria in Alport syndrome (AS) remains unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is a key regulator of the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB). This study explored the expression of VEGFA in the glomeruli and its accumulation in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and their relationship with podocyte injury and proteinuria in Alport syndrome (AS). Clinical data and renal tissues of control patients (11 cases) and AS patients (25 cases) were included. AS patients were further divided into 2 groups according to the quantities of their urinary protein: mild to moderate proteinuria group (proteinuria <50 mg/kg/d, 15 cases) and heavy proteinuria group (proteinuria ≥50 mg/kg/d, 10 cases). The expression and distribution of VEGFA and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) in the GFB, the phosphorylation of VEGFR2 (p-VEGFR2) and nephrin (p-nephrin), and the expression of synaptopodin and nephrin in the glomeruli were detected by immune electron microscopy and/or immunofluorescence, and their relationships to proteinuria in AS patients were analyzed. The accumulation of VEGFA in the GBM was increased in AS patients. The expression of VEGFA and the levels of p-VEGFR2 and p-nephrin in glomeruli were increased and were positively correlated with the degree of proteinuria in AS patients. The expression of synaptopodin and nephrin were decreased and were negatively correlated with the degree of proteinuria in AS patients. The over expressed VEGFA in the glomeruli and its accumulation in the GBM may activate the VEGFA-VEGFR2 and nephrin signaling pathways and lead to podocyte injury and occurrence of proteinuria in AS.     

KGF Phage Model Peptide Accelerates Cutaneous Wound Healing in a Diabetic Rat Model

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The authors have previously demonstrated that one phage-displayed keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) model peptide that can bind to...     

大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型的初步研究

目的构建大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型,观察评价该模型的临床及病理特点。方法利用磁片循环压迫的方法,构建大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型,并从整体,组织和生化三个层次对糖尿病溃疡进行了研究。结果构建出了一个可以复制的糖尿病溃疡动物模型,该模型具有组织坏死、白细胞聚集以及高浓度晚期糖化终末产物等特征。结论利用缺血再灌注法构建了大鼠糖尿病溃疡动物模型。其病理改变与人极为相似,是一种很好的用于糖尿病溃疡发病机制和治疗研究的动物模型。     

STZ诱导糖尿病肾病大鼠模型的建立

目的建立糖尿病大鼠动物模型,探讨其肾脏损害规律。方法用STZ65mg/kg一次性腹腔内注射方式制作糖尿病大鼠模型,设立空白对照组,饲养14周,期间观察大鼠血糖、尿糖及一般情况变化,实验结束时测定血肌酐、尿素氮、尿蛋白、尿白蛋白排泄率,取肾作病理及超微病理检查。结果模型组大鼠出现血肌酐、尿素氮、尿蛋白、尿白蛋白明显升高,出现肾脏肥大,病理显示明显的肾小球、肾小管病变。结论STZ诱导糖尿病大鼠肾脏表现肾小球及小管间质损害,可以用作糖尿病肾病研究的动物模型。     

The Protective Effect of Vanadium Against Diabetic Cataracts in Diabetic Rat Model

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of vanadium in alloxan-induced diabetes and cataract in rats. Different doses of vanadium was administered once daily for 8 weeks to alloxan-induced diabetic rats. To know the mechanism of action of vanadium, lens malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl content, activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), activities of aldose reductase (AR), and sorbitol levels were assayed, respectively. Supplementation of vanadium to alloxan-induced diabetic rats decreased the blood glucose levels due to hyperglycemia, inhibited the AR activity, and delayed cataract progression in a dose-dependent manner. The observed beneficial effects may be attributed to polyol pathway activation but not decreased oxidative stress. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that vanadium could effectively reduce the alloxan-induced hyperglycemia and diabetic cataracts in rats.     

适合免疫治疗的大鼠抗肾小球基底膜肾炎模型的建立

以线性表位肽P14（a3_127-148）作为抗原建立适合免疫治疗的抗肾小球基底膜（anti-glomerular basement membrane,GBM）病大鼠模型。采用大鼠后脚垫三点注射P14（a3_127-148）与弗氏佐剂乳化物的方法进行单次免疫,免疫前后每周采集24 h尿样和血样,所有大鼠在免疫后7 w处死。大鼠免疫后,肾炎模型组在各时间点的24 h尿蛋白、尿蛋白肌酐比值（albumin/urine creatinine ratio,ACR）、血肌酐及血尿素氮均明显高于对照组（P<0.05）;循环抗P14（a3_127-148）IgG抗体水平明显高于对照组(P<0.001);PAS染色可见节段性纤维素样坏死,富于细胞型新月体;免疫组化染色可见肾小球有明显的中性粒细胞和巨噬细胞浸润;免疫荧光检测可见IgG沿GBM呈强线性沉积;电镜观察到GBM的断裂和收缩;而对照组均未见改变。HE染色在所有大鼠中均未观察到肺部病变。使用P14（a3_127-148）线性肽免疫WKY大鼠成功建立了大鼠抗GBM病模型,有助于开发更为特异的免疫疗法。     

The Double Fixed Charge Membrane: Solution-Membrane Ion Partition Effects and Membrane Potentials

An analysis is made of the effect of solution-membrane partition of ions on the electrostatic potential and ion concentration profiles in fixed charge membranes. It is shown that the inclusion of partition effects gives rise to large solution-membrane “Donnan” potentials even when the concentration of fixed charges is of the same order as the concentration of the external solution. This effect renders the system and the simplified analysis of the double fixed charge membrane (FCM) previously given more applicable to biological membranes. An analysis is also given of the voltage dependence of the fluxes of individual ion species in the double FCM when it separates different ionic solutions and an expression is deduced for the membrane resting potential. Although the latter is similar in form to the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz (GHK) equation the corresponding value of the permeability ratio P_C1/P_K is under certain specified conditions both concentration and potential dependent.     

Primary Rat Lacrimal Cells Undergo Acinar-like Morphogenesis on Reconstituted Basement Membrane and Express Secretory Component under Androgen Stimulation

Single cells or small cell clusters, isolated from the rat lacrimal gland, were incubated on reconstituted basement membrane (matrigel) in a well-defined serum-free medium. During the first days of culture, cells reassociated and reorganized in structures resembling acini. These multicellular structures, maintained in culture for 2 weeks, consisted of well-polarized cuboidal cells surrounding a central lumen and exhibiting apically located microvilli. Myoepithelial cells were observed at the periphery of the acinar structures. Both in the native lacrimal and in the cultured aggregates, epithelial cells displayed strong immunoreactivity for cytokeratin 8, while myoepithelial cells were immunoreactive for vimentin and α-smooth muscle isoactin. These data indicate that the cultured aggregates closely mimic thein vivoarchitecture of lacrimal glands both by morphology and immunohistochemistry. We further demonstrated the presence of an intact androgen receptor and the ability of the cultured aggregates to respond to androgens with increased secretion of the secretory component. Comparable androgen responses were observed in lacrimal gland cultures of 5-week-old male and female rats. In conclusion, we report a morphologically and functionally differentiated culture system of primary rat lacrimal cells, in which androgen-regulated gene expression was observed. This culture model provides a unique experimental paradigm for studying the effects of hormones, cytokines, and growth factors on the morphogenesis, growth, and functional differentiation of lacrimal glands.     

Binding of Pediocin PA-1 with Anionic Lipid Induces Model Membrane Destabilization

To obtain molecular insights into the action mode of antimicrobial activity of pediocin PA-1, the interactions between this bacteriocin and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol (DMPG) model membranes have been investigated in D₂O at pD 6 by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The interactions were monitored with respect to alteration of the secondary structure of pediocin, as registered by the amide I′ band, and phospholipid conformation, as revealed by the methylene ν_s(CH₂) and carbonyl ν(C=O) stretching vibrations. The results show that no interaction between pediocin and DMPC occurs. By contrast, pediocin undergoes a structural reorganization in the presence of DMPG. Upon heating, pediocin self-aggregates, which is not observed for this pD in aqueous solution. The gel-to-crystalline phase transition of DMPG shifts to higher temperatures with a concomitant dehydration of the interfacial region. Our results indicate that pediocin is an extrinsic peptide and that its action mechanism may lie in a destabilization of the cell membrane.     

耗竭性游泳对大鼠心肌线粒体膜功能的影响

耗竭性游泳对大鼠心肌线粒体膜功能的影响王文信,丁树哲,许豪文（华东师范大学体育系运动生化实验室,上海２０００６２）关键词心肌线粒体,内膜表面电位,游离钙,总钙,合成活力长时间耗竭性游泳或跑步引起心肌、骨骼肌、肝脏等线粒体结构和功能变化,这些变化可能与...     

Losartan Affects Glomerular AKT and mTOR Phosphorylation in an Experimental Model of Type 1 Diabetic Nephropathy

The AKT-mTOR pathway is activated in diabetic nephropathy. Renin-angiotensin system modulators exert beneficial effects on the diabetic kidney. We explored the action of losartan on AKT-mTOR phosphorylation in glomeruli and podocytes. Diabetes mellitus was induced to Sprague-Dawley rats by streptozotocin. Five months later, the rats were commenced on losartan and euthanized 2 months later. Kidneys were processed for immunofluorescence studies. Glomeruli were isolated for Western blot analysis. Diabetes increased activated forms of AKT and mTOR both in glomeruli and podocytes. In diabetic rats, losartan decreased phosphorylated/activated forms of AKT (Thr308) and mTOR (Ser2448) in glomeruli but decreased only activated mTOR in podocytes. However, in both glomeruli and podocytes of healthy animals, an inverse pattern was evident. In conclusion, a new body of evidence indicates the differential activation of AKT-mTOR in glomeruli and podocytes of healthy and diabetic animals in response to losartan.