Protein kinase C-β inhibition attenuates the progression of nephropathy in non-diabetic kidney disease

Abstract

Background. Activation of protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy where therapy targeting the β isoform of this enzyme is in advanced clinical development. However, PKC-β is also increased in various forms of human glomerulonephritis with several potentially nephrotoxic factors, other than high glucose, resulting in PKC-β activation. Accordingly, we sought to examine the effects of PKC-β inhibition in a non-diabetic model of progressive kidney disease.Methods. Subtotally nephrectomized (STNx) rats were randomly assigned to receive either the selective PKC-β inhibitor, ruboxistaurin or vehicle. In addition to functional and structural parameters,..