Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 deficiency protects against experimental diabetic nephropathy partly by blocking the advanced glycation end products-receptor axis

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their receptor (RAGE) have a role in diabetic nephropathy. We have recently found that linagliptin, an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), could inhibit renal damage in type 1 diabetic rats by suppressing the AGE-RAGE axis. However, it remains unclear whether DPP-4 deficiency could also have beneficial effects on experimental diabetic nephropathy. To address the issue, we rendered wild-type F344/NSlc and DPP-4-deficient F344/DuCrl/Crlj rats diabetic by injection of streptozotocin, and then investigated whether DPP-4 deficiency could block the activation of AGE-RAGE axis in the diabetic kidneys and resultantly ameliorate renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Compared with control rats at 9 and 11 weeks old, body weight and heart rates were significantly lower, while fasting blood glucose was higher in wild-type and DPP-4-deficient diabetic rats at the same age. There was no significant difference of body weight, fasting blood glucose and lipid parameters between the two diabetic rat strains. AGEs, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and nitrotyrosine levels in the kidney, renal gene expression of RAGE and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, glomerular area, urinary excretion of 8-OHdG and albumin, and the ratio of renal to body weight were increased in wild-type diabetic rats at 9 and/or 11 weeks old compared with age-matched control rats, all of which except for urinary 8-OHdG levels at 11 weeks old were significantly suppressed in DPP-4-deficient diabetic rats. Our present study suggests that DPP-4 deficiency could exert beneficial actions on type 1 diabetic nephropathy partly by blocking the AGE-RAGE axis. DPP-4 might be a novel therapeutic target for preventing diabetic nephropathy.