FK506 ameliorates renal injury in early experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin

Abstract Calcineurin (CaN) plays an important role in glomerular hypertrophy and extracellular matrix accumulation in early diabetic nephropathy. Cyclosporine (CSA), a CaN inhibitor, has been shown to reduce renal injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We examined whether FK506, which immunosuppressive action was 10–100 times of CSA, inhibits progression of diabetic nephropathy in experimental diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in rats, and FK506 (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) was orally administered once a day for 4 weeks. Increased relative kidney weight was significantly reduced by FK506 treatment with 1.0 mg/kg ( p p p p p