Rutin suppresses high glucose-induced ACTA2 and p38 protein expression in diabetic nephropathy

The present study investigated the effect of rutin on high glucose-induced actin, α2, smooth muscle, aorta (ACTA2) and p38 protein expression in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Human mesangial cells were divided into a control group, high glucose-induced mesangial cell group, high glucose + captopril group, and high glucose + rutin group (low, middle and high doses of rutin). Cell viability, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) content, cell cycle, and ACTA2 and p38 protein expression were examined using MTT assay, ATP assay kit, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining in cultured human mesangial cells, respectively. Cell viability, ATP content, and ACTA2 and p38 expression increased significantly in high glucose-induced mesangial cells (P<0.05). However, at concentrations of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 µmol/l rutin was able to inhibit high glucose-induced human mesangial cell viability, ATP content, and ACTA2 and p38 expression and improve the cell cycle progression of mesangial cells. In conclusion, ACTA2 and p38 proteins may have important roles in DN. Rutin may inhibit the expression of ACTA2 and p38 and may be utilized in the prevention and treatment of DN.