Wei Hu¹, Dan Xiong^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.9, pp. 1711-1731, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.067670 - 25 September 2025

Abstract Objectives: Podocytes undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ferroptosis in response to hyperglycemic stimulation. This is considered an important early event in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Rhein is the main active anthraquinone derivative in several common traditional herbal medicines. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Rhein on podocyte ferroptosis and EMT. Methods: The mouse glomerular podocyte cell line MPC5 was stimulated with high glucose (HG), Rhein, and the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1). Mechanistic investigations employed plasmids to overexpress and knockdown Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11),… More >

YU TANG¹, WENXIAO HU^2,*, YAJUN PENG¹, XIANGDONG LING²

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.10, pp. 1503-1516, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.052692 - 02 October 2024

Abstract Background: Podocyte injury is crucial in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression, and the mechanism remains unclear. The previous studies indicated Diosgenin played a key role in inhibiting podocyte injury progression. However, more research is needed to explore Diosgenin in inhibiting-molecular mechanisms in the process of podocyte injury. Methods: The content of Diosgenin in HeShenwan was detected by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) method. The podocyte injury model was constructed by high glucose (HG)-induced mpc5 cells. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was utilized to evaluate the activity of mpc5 cells. Pyroptosis in mpc5 cells was… More > Graphic Abstract

WEI LU^1,*, KAN GUO², DIANMEI XI¹, ZHAOXIA XIA¹

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.9, pp. 1995-2008, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.024591 - 28 September 2023

Abstract Background: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived exosomes are closely related to pyroptosis in diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study aimed to explore the protective effect of exosomal miR-30a-5p on podocyte pyroptosis in DN. Methods: Streptozotocin was used to establish the mouse model of DN. Human bone marrow MSC-derived exosomes were extracted and identified via transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blotting. MiR-30a-5p mimics and non-control (NC) mimics were transfected into MSCs and podocytes, and exosomes were isolated from the MSCs. High glucose (HG)-induced podocyte model was established to determine the effect of exosomal miR-30a-5p on pyroptosis… More >

RAFAEL MORENO-GÓMEZ-TOLEDANO^1,*, MARíA I. ARENAS², ESPERANZA VÉLEZ-VÉLEZ³, RICARDO J. BOSCH¹

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.2, pp. 305-308, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017894 - 20 October 2021

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) is a xenoestrogen known for its implications for the endocrine systems and several other organs, including the kidneys. Recent renal studies have shown that BPA can induce alterations of the cytoskeleton and cell adhesion mechanisms such as a podocytopathy with proteinuria and hypertension, alterations involved in the progression of renal diseases. These data and the fact that BPA is known to be present in the urine of almost the entire population strongly suggest the critical need to reevaluate BPA exposures considered safe. More >