The effects of a hirudin/liposome complex on a diabetic nephropathy rat model
Basic science / preclinical published in BMC complementary and alternative medicine (2019)
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hirudin, an extract from Hirudo spp., is an anticoagulant used to treat a variety of renal diseases, including diabetic nephropathy (DN). Currently, hirudin has to be used at high dosages to treat DN because it poorly targets the kidneys, although at high dosages it can have severe side effects. Developing a targeted drug delivery system for hirudin, then, could boost its positive therapeutic effects while lowering the risk of side effects. Liposomes have been demonstrated to have significant renal targeting potential, but here we show that a hirudin-loaded liposome is an effective delivery method for patients with DN. METHOD: In this study, we prepared a hirudin/liposome complex and tested its efficacy by injecting it into a rat model. We then compared the renal accumulation of hirudin between complex-injected rat models and rat models that received injections of hirudin alone. We also investigated the mechanisms behind the complex's effects. RESULT: The hirudin/liposome complex increased the accumulation of hirudin in kidney tissues and relieved the renal injury in DN rat models. Moreover, the hirudin/liposome complex down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF in the kidneys. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that a hirudin/liposome complex can have a significant positive effect on DN. The mechanism may be that the complex inhibits the expression of VEGF and TGF-β1.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Hirudin, an extract from Hirudo spp. , is an anticoagulant used to treat a variety of renal diseases, including diabetic nephropathy (DN).
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio examinó un complejo hirudin/liposoma como sistema de administración dirigido al riñón para hirudin —el anticoagulante característico derivado de Hirudo spp.— en un modelo de rata de nefropatía diabética, comparando la acumulación renal de hirudin, los desenlaces de lesión renal y la expresión renal de TGF-β1 y VEGF frente a la hirudin administrada sola. Para el campo de la hirudoterapia y el estudio del secretoma salivar de la sanguijuela, este trabajo es directamente relevante porque investiga la optimización farmacéutica de hirudin, una de las moléculas derivadas de sanguijuela terapéuticamente más importantes, demostrando cómo la administración liposomal dirigida puede mejorar la eficacia renal al tiempo que reduce los efectos secundarios dependientes de la dosis que actualmente limitan su uso. Sin embargo, se trata de un estudio preclínico en animales que utiliza hirudin aislado en lugar de terapia con sanguijuelas vivas o el secretoma salivar completo, y sus hallazgos en un modelo de diabetes en ratas no pueden asumirse como directamente trasladables a pacientes humanos.
Citación
The effects of a hirudin/liposome complex on a diabetic nephropathy rat model.
Wang H et al. · BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2019
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026