Macrophage migration inhibitory factor antagonist (p425) ameliorates kidney histopathological and functional changes in diabetic rats Antagonista (p425) do fator de inibição da migração de macrófagos (MIF) melhora as alterações histopatológicas e funcionais renais em ratos diabéticos

Introduction: It is hypothesized that in-
creased macrophage migration inhibi-
tory factor (MIF) expression may con-
tribute to diabetic nephropathy (DN)
pathogenesis. The aim of the present
study was to investigate the renal effects
of MIF inhibition in a diabetic experi-
mental model. Methods: Eighteen male
Wistar rats (230 ± 20 g) were divided
into three groups: 1) control, 2) diabetic
(STZ, 50 mg/kg, dissolved in saline, ip),
3) diabetic + MIF antagonist (p425, 1
mg/kg per day, ip, on the 21th day, for
21 consecutive days). The treatment
started since we founwd a significant in-
crease in urine albumin excretion (UAE)
rate in the diabetic rats in comparison
with the control rats. The rats were kept
individually in metabolic cages (8 AM-2
PM) and urine samples were collected in
the 21 and 42th day. At the end, blood
and tissue samples were collected for
biochemical (BS, UPE, urine GAG, BUN,
Cr, Na, and K) and histological analy-
ses. Results: The results of this study
showed that MIF antagonist (p425) sig-
nificantly decreased urine protein and
GAG excretion, urine protein/creatinine
ratio, and serum BUN and Cr in the
streptozotocin-induced DN in the rats.
Pathological changes were significantly
alleviated in the MIF antagonist (p425)-
administered DN rats. Conclusion: Col-
lectively, these data suggested that MIF
antagonist (p425) was able to protect
against functional and histopathological
injury in the DN.