Purified hepatitis B virus induces human Mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix expression In Vitro

(1) Background: Diabetic nephropathy, a microvascular complication of diabetes, is one of the principal causes of end-stage renal disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effects of ergosterol on diabetic nephropathy. (2) Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced C57BL/6 diabetic mice were treated with ergosterol (10, 20, 40 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks by oral gavage. The in vitro study employed rat mesangial cells exposed to 30 mM glucose for 48 h in the presence of 10 or 20 μM ergosterol. (3) Results: Ergosterol treatment improved body weights, ameliorated the majority of biochemical and renal functional parameters and histopathological changes, and reduced extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in diabetic mice. In vitro, ergosterol suppressed proliferation, reduced the levels of ECM proteins, and increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 in high glucose-induced mesangial cells; Furthermore, ergosterol markedly improved transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression, enhanced phosphorylation levels of drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic 2 (Smad2), and regulated the downstream factors in vivo and in vitro. (4) Conclusions: Ergosterol alleviated mesangial cell proliferation and the subsequent ECM deposition by regulating the TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathway.

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In Vitro Mitochondrial Toxicity of Metacavir, a New Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor for Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00794-10 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 54 (11) ◽

pp. 4887-4892 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Pinghu Zhang ◽

Luyong Zhang ◽

Zhenzhou Jiang ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Hongkui Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Proliferation ◽

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Respiratory Chain ◽

Enzyme Activities ◽

Mitochondrial Toxicity ◽

Respiratory Chain Complexes ◽

Chain Complexes ◽

B Virus

ABSTRACT Therapy with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) can be associated with mitochondrial toxicity. In vitro studies have been used to predict the predisposition for and characterize the mechanisms causing mitochondrial toxicity. Metacavir (PNA) is a novel synthetic nucleoside analog for oral administration with potent and specific antiviral activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV). We assessed the potential for mitochondrial toxicity of PNA in long-term cultures of HepG2 hepatoma cells by measuring mitochondrial function (through lactate secretion), levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and the activities of respiratory-chain complexes I to IV. Exposure of HepG2 cells to PNA at concentrations up to 50 μM for 15 days resulted in no deleterious effect on cell proliferation, levels of lactate or mtDNA, or enzyme activities of respiratory-chain complexes I to IV. In contrast, dideoxycytosine at 10 μM and zidovudine at 50 μM have significant effects on cell proliferation, levels of lactate and mtDNA, and enzyme activities of respiratory-chain complexes I to IV. However, PNA at a supratherapeutic concentration of 250 μM could result in significant alterations in the levels of mtDNA and the activities of respiratory-chain complex enzymes, revealing evidence of the potential mitochondrial toxicity of PNA. In summary, these in vitro results indicate that the potential for PNA to interfere with mitochondrial functions is low.

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