LAUSR

Aims: The heterodimerization of angiotensin II receptors (AT1R and AT2R) with adiponectin receptor AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 may instigate high glucose (HG)‐induced renal tubulointerstitial injury. This study examined the effect of telmisartan on diabetic nephropathy (DN) and its underlying mechanism. Main methods: Diabetes was induced in rats through a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Diabetic rats treated with or without the intravenous injection of AdipoR1 siRNA were intragastrically administered with 5 mg/kg/d telmisartan or a vehicle for 12 weeks. The rat proximal tubular epithelial cell line NRK‐52E was treated with HG (30 mmol/L) with or without telmisartan (10 &mgr;M) for 48 h. Key findings: In streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats, telmisartan treatment could decrease the inulin clearance rate, restore the glomerular surface area and mesangial area, alleviate renal fibrosis, and decrease urinary albumin excretion. Furthermore, diabetic rats exhibited increased AT1R‐AdipoR1 heterodimers in the renal tubular compartment, which could be attenuated by telmisartan treatment, accompanied by a decrease in the expression level of cytokines MIP‐1&agr;, ICAM‐1 and MCP‐1. In vitro, HG promoted the dimerization formation of AT1R‐AdipoR1 in cultured NRK‐52E cells, but this effect was not found in NRK‐52E cells transfected with the AdipoR1‐G269E,G273E mutant. Telmisartan could inhibit HG‐induced AT1R‐AdipoR1 dimerization, downregulate the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, and alleviate cell apoptosis in NRK‐52E cells. Furthermore, AdipoR1 knockdown could abate the renoprotective benefits of telmisartan. Significance: The heterodimerization of AT1R‐AdipoR1 probably contributes to the renal injury of DN, and provides an additional mechanistic insight into how telmisartan prevents the development and progression of DN.