Low molecular weight heparin improves proteinuria in rats with L-NAME induced preeclampsia by decreasing the expression of nephrin, but not podocin

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the relationship between proteinuria in L-NAME induced preeclampsia and the expression of nephrin and podocin, and the effect of low-molecular-weight-heparin (LMWH) on proteinuria in rats. Methods: We detected nephrin and podocin expression of kidneys of pregnant rats after L-NAME and after LMWH intervening pregnant rats. Results: Glomerular nephrin expression in L-NAME induced preeclampsia significantly decreased, but not podocin. Nephrin was relatively increased after LMWH intervention and this was accompanied by a decrease in proteinuria. Conclusion: We demonstrate that down-regulation of nephrin is involved in L-NAME induced proteinuria, and that LMWH reduces proteinuria by up-regulation of neprhin.

• Animal model
• low-molecular-weight-heparin
• nephrin
• podocin
• preeclampsia

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of all of their colleagues associated with this work.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no financial conflicts of interest. This study was supported by foundation of National Science and Technology Plan in 2012 (81200451) and the Natural Science Foundation of the Hubei Province Science Technology Plan in 2010 (QJX2010-6).