Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of active vitamin D analogue (calcitriol) on the expression of CD2AP in podocytes of rats with adriamyicin (ADR) nephropathy. Methods Sixty Sprasue-Dawley rats were selected randomly and injected by single tail vein injection of doxorubicin (7.5mg/kg). The levels of 24h urine protein and total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TC) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured to judge the model success after 2 weeks. These rats were randomly divided into model group (ADR group) and calcitriol treatment group (ADR+VitD3 group). The other 30 rats were used as a blank control group. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 weeks after the injection of ADR, 24 h urine proteins were detected and kidney tissues were taken. The pathological damages of glomerulus were observed by Masson staining, and the ultrastructure of podocytes were observed by transmission electron microscope. Immunohistochemical staining and western blotting were used to detect the localization and expression of CD2-related proteins. Results There were significant differences in urine protein quantitation, TP, ALB,Scr and TC among the control group, the model group, and the treatment group at 2 weeks (P < 0.05), suggesting that the model was successful. The 24 h urine protein quantitation of rats decreased with the number of weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). Histopathology showed a large amount of fibrous hyperplasia, tubular dilatation and renal interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue of the model group. Transmission electron microscopy showed that structural damage of the renal foot cells in the model group, extensive fusion of the foot processes, nuclear malformation, and lipid droplet aggregation. The treatment group was better than the model group. The results of immunohistochemistry showed that the expression of CD2AP was lower in the model group than control group, and the positive expression areas were significantly increased after treatment with 1, 25- (OH)2D3 (P < 0.05). Western blotting showed that the expression of CD2AP in each group was significantly different (P < 0.05). and decreased in the model group. The expression of the treatment group was increased with the number of weeks (P < 0.05). Conclusions Active vitamin D3 can upregulate the expression of CD2-related proteins, reduce the damage of podocytes, inhibit the pathological fibrosis and proliferation of renal tissues, and exert renal protective function to reduce the production of proteinuria.