Berberine reduces fibronectin and collagen accumulation in rat glomerular mesangial cells cultured under high glucose condition

Diabetic nephropathy, one of the microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus, is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Berberine is one of the main constituents of Coptidis Rhizoma and Cortex Phellodendri. In this study, we investigated the effects of berberine on fibronectin and collagen production, and explored the role of p38MAPK signaling pathway in rat glomerular mesangial cells cultured under high glucose condition. Six groups were divided according to the different experimental conditions: (1) Normal glucose group (NG); (2) Mannitol group (Mannitol); (3) High glucose group (HG); (4) SB203580 treatment group (HG + SB203580); (5) Berberine low dosage group (HG + BBR 30 mu M); (6) Berberine high dosage group (HG + BBR 90 mu M). Cell proliferation and collagen synthesis were measured by MTT and H-3-proline incorporation assay, respectively. The phospho-p38MAPK, phospho-cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and fibronectin were detected by western blot analysis. Fibronectin protein expression and collagen synthesis were significantly increased in HG-treated group compared with normal glucose group (P < 0.05). In SB203580 treatment group and two groups of berberine, protein expression of fibronectin and collagen synthesis were obviously decreased compared with HG-treated group (P < 0.05). Berberine significantly decreased protein expression of fibronectin compared with SB203580 treatment group (P < 0.05). Berberine at high dosage significantly decreased collagen synthesis compared with SB203580 treatment group (P < 0.05). Both SB203580 and berberine significantly decreased phospho-p38MAPK and phospho-CREB level compared with HG-treated group (P < 0.05). These results indicated that berberine might inhibit fibronectin and collagen synthesis partly via p38MAPK signal pathway in rat glomerular mesangial cells exposed to high glucose.