Previous studies have illustrated that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC)
transplantation has
therapeutic effects on diabetes and can prevent mice from renal damage and
diabetic nephropathy (DN). Moreover, adipose-derived MSCs possess similar characteristics to BMMSCs. We investigated the effect of ADMSC
transplantation on
streptozotocin (STZ)-induced renal injury. Diabetes was induced in rats by STZ injection. After ADMSC treatment, renal histological changes and cell apoptosis were evaluated as were the expression of apoptosis-related
proteins, Wnt/β-
catenin pathway members, and klotho levels. We found that ADMSCs improved renal histological changes. Next, NRK-52E cells were exposed to normal
glucose (NG; 5.5 mM
glucose plus 24.5 mM
mannitol)/high
glucose (HG) or ADMSCs, and then measured for changes in the aforementioned
proteins. Similarly, changes in these
proteins were also determined following transient transfection of klotho
siRNA. We found that both ADMSC
transplantation and co-incubation reduced the rate of cellular apoptosis, decreased Bax and Wnt/β-
catenin levels, and elevated Bcl-2 and klotho levels. Interestingly, klotho knockdown reversed the effects of ADMSCs on the expression of apoptosis-related
proteins and Wnt/β-
catenin pathway members. Taken together, ADMSCs
transplantation might attenuate renal injury in DN via activating klotho and inhibiting the Wnt/β-
catenin pathway. This study may provide evidence for the treatment of DN using ADMSCs.