Role of receptor for advanced glycation end-products and signalling events in advanced glycation end-product-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in differentiated mouse podocytes.

Background: Upregulation of local monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production is involved in glomerular damage through macrophage recruitment and activation in diabetic nephropathy. Treatment of db/db mice with soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) prevented recruitment of macrophages to the glomeruli and reduced albuminuria, suggesting that binding of ligands and RAGE may be involved in MCP-1 expression. Therefore, we investigated the role of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in MCP-1 production by podocytes and signalling events after RAGE activation.

Beta-trace protein, a new marker of GFR, may predict the early prognostic stages of patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

The relationship between serum levels of beta-trace protein (BTP) or serum creatinine (s-Cr) and the prognostic stages of type 2 diabetic nephropathy was determined. Serum samples from 174 patients with type 2 diabetes were obtained from Juntendo University Hospital, Tokyo, and Juntendo Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan. They were classified into four groups according to the Report of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan (1991, p 251-256) as follows: Stage I (normoalbuminuric stage), Stage II (microalbuminuric stage), Stage IIIA (macroalbuminuric stage without renal dysfunction), Stage IIIB (macroalbuminuric stage with renal dysfunction), and Stage IV (renal failure stage).

Serum cystatin C may predict the early prognostic stages of patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

We determined the relationship between levels of serum cystatin C or serum creatinine (s-Cr) and prognostic stages of type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Serum samples from 174 patients with type 2 diabetes were obtained from Juntendo University Hospital, Tokyo and Juntendo Urayasu Hospital, Chiba, Japan. They were classified into four groups according to the Report of the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan as follows: Stage I (normoalbuminuric stage), Stage II (microalbuminuric stage), Stage IIIA (macroalbuminuric stage without renal dysfunction), Stage IIIB (macroalbuminuric stage with renal dysfunction), and Stage IV (renal failure stage).

Serum cystatin C is a more sensitive marker of glomerular function than serum creatinine.

We determined the relationship between the levels of serum cystatin C or creatinine (s-Cr) and the grade of creatinine clearance (CCr) in patients with various glomerular diseases. Serum samples from 96 patients with glomerular diseases were obtained from our hospital. The levels of serum cystatin C were measured using the Dade Behring Cystatin C assay with the automated Dade Behring Nephelometer II (BNII).