Abstract

As one major diabetic complication, diabetic nephropathy (DN) has been reported to be associated with various kinds of microRNA (miRNA). Thus, we conducted this study to explore the potential of miR‐370 in a rat model of DN through investigation of mesangial cell proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM). A total of 40 healthy adult male Sprague–Dawley rats were enrolled and assigned into normal (n = 10) and DN ( n = 30, DN rat model) groups. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay was performed for the targeting relationship between miR‐370 and canopy 1 (CNPY1). Mesangial cells were collected and transfected with prepared mimic, inhibitor or small interfering RNA (siRNA) for analyzing the effect of miR‐370 on DN mice with the help of expression and cell biological processes detection. CNPY1 was confirmed as a target gene of miR‐370. DN mice had increased expression of miR‐370, fibronectin, type I collagen (Col I), type IV collagen (Col IV), and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) but reduced CNPY1 expression. Cells transfected with miR‐370 mimic and siRNA–CNPY1 had increased expression of fibronectin, Col I, Col IV, and PAI‐1 but decreased CNPY1 expression. The miR‐370 mimic and siRNA–CNPY1 groups showed increased cell proliferation, as well as elevated ECM accumulation and declined cell apoptosis rate as compared with the blank and negative control groups, with reverse trends observed in the miR‐370 inhibitor group. Our study concludes that overexpression of miR‐370 promotes mesangial cell proliferation and ECM accumulation by suppressing CNPY1 in a rat model of DN.