Abstract:Objective To observe the effects of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor dapagliflozin on glomerular and renal tubular function via the changes of related indicators and inflammatory markers in patients with early type 2 diabetic nephropathy, and to explore the possible mechanisms of dapagliflozin in improving renal function. Methods A total of 160 patients with type 2 diabetes who were admitted to our department were selected. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into the metformin group (MET group) and the dapagliflozin group (DAP group). All patients were given basic treatments such as intervening life factors, lowering the lipid, and reducing urinary protein. Besides, the MET group and the DAP group were treated with metformin hydrochloride tablets (1,500 mg per day) and dapagliflozin tablets (10 mg per day) respectively to control the blood glucose for 3 months. The clinical data and relevant biochemical indicators of patients at baseline and 3 months after treatment were collected. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 22.0 software. Results There was no statistical difference in the clinical data at baseline between the MET group and DAP group (P > 0.05). The differences in levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), cystatin C (CysC), urinary α1-microglobulin (α1-MG), urinary β2-microglobulin (β2-MG), urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), TNF- α, IL-6, and HMGB1 before and after the treatment in the DAP group were lower than those in the MET group (P < 0.05). However, the difference in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) before and after the treatment in the DAP group was higher than that in the MET group (P < 0.05). None of the patients in both groups developed hypoglycemia during the treatment. Conclusions The SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin may improve the glomerular and tubular function of patients with early type 2 diabetic nephropathy through anti-inflammatory effects.