Regulation of Mitochondrial Quality Control in Treatment of Diabetic Kidney Disease by Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is characterized by the hyperfiltration and albuminuria in the early phase which are followed by progressive renal function decline， renal tubular epithelial cell hypertrophy， and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Thus， it is one of the leading causes of chronic kidney diseases. The currently available therapies mainly aim to control the primary diseases and reduce the risk of kidney injury. Based on syndrome differentiation， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） relieves the symptoms by excreting water and alleviating edema and eliminates the root cause by tonifying deficiency and supplementing the original Qi， thereby showing therapeutic effect and delaying the progression of DKD. It excels in comprehensively regulating the constitution of patients with little side effects. Among the Zang-fu organs， kidney takes the second place in the content of mitochondria which participate in the metabolism of water and fluid and are the foundation of kidney Yin and kidney Yang. Mitochondria are energy producers within a cell， which carry out cellular respiration， produce reactive oxygen species， and generate adenosine triphosphate by oxidative phosphorylation. Mitochondrial quality control （MQC） is an effective way to maintain mitochondrial dynamic balance， whose imbalances， such as mitochondrial oxidative stress， mitophagy， mitochondrial dynamic changes， and abnormal calcium regulation， are related to the occurrence and development of DKD. It is generally believed that the destruction of mitochondrial structure in the case of metabolic disorder is the main cause of the disease. In recent years， TCM has attracted the attention of both Chinese and foreign researchers for the unique advantages of treating both symptoms and root cause at the same time and multi-target synergy in the treatment of DKD. However， the specific mechanism is still unclear. It has been frequently verified that mitochondria may be one of the targets of TCM in the treatment of DKD. At the moment， no review on the treatment of DKD by TCM through the intervention of MQC is available. Therefore， this paper aims to summarize the research on TCM treatment of DKD by regulating MQC in the past 10 years， which is expected to provide a new direction for the treatment of DKD by TCM.

Qianjin Wenwu decoction suppresses renal interstitial fibrosis by enhancing the degradation of extracellular matrix in mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction / 中国天然药物

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Qianjin Wenwu decoction (QWD), a well-known traditional Korean medicine, has been used for the treatment of DKD, with satisfactory therapeutic effects. This study was designed to investigate the active components and mechanisms of action of QWD in the treatment of DKD. The results demonstrated that a total of 13 active components in five types were found in QWD, including flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, phenylpropionic acids, saponins, coumarins, and lignins. Two key proteins, TGF-β1 and TIMP-1, were identified as the target proteins through molecular docking. Furthermore, QWD significantly suppressed Scr and BUN levels which increased after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) and Masson staining results demonstrated that QWD significantly alleviated renal interstitial fibrosis in UUO mice. We also found that QWD promoted ECM degradation by regulating MMP-9/TIMP-1 homeostasis to improve renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis and interfere with the expression and activity of TGF- β1 in DKD treatment. These findings explain the underlying mechanism of QWD for the treatment of DKD, and also provide methodological reference for investigating the mechanism of traditional medicine in the treatment of DKD.

Role of Histone Modifications and 12/15-lipoxygenase Metabolic Pathway in the Development of Diabetic Kidney Disease / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

Diabetic kidney disease （DKD） is one of the most common microvascular complications in patients with diabetes. DKD is also the main cause of end-stage renal failure， with very complex pathogenesis. A large number of experiments have confirmed that epigenetic mechanisms， including histone chemical modifications and lipid metabolites 12/15-lipoxygenase （12/15-LO）， are involved in regulating the characteristic pathophysiological process of DKD， based on which， this review further explores the pathogenesis of DKD and provides the new research direction for DKD treatment.

Roles of Pyroptosis and Necroptosis in Diabetic Kidney Disease and Its Regulation with Traditional Chinese Medicine： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

The increasing incidence of obesity and diabetes has made diabetic kidney disease （DKD） the main cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Despite current pharmacological interventions for blood glucose control and renin-angiotensin system inhibition， the risk of kidney disease progression and complications remains high. At present， the pathogenesis of DKD has been clarified to be related to chronic inflammatory response， oxidative stress， glucose and lipid metabolism disorders， and hemodynamic abnormalities. According to recent studies， the programmed cell deaths （PCD） of renal intrinsic cells such as pyroptosis and necroptosis play a key role in the occurrence and development of DKD. Pyroptosis and necroptosis， the two newly discovered routes of PCD， can protect the hosts from being invaded by microbial pathogens， but their dysregulation is associated with multiple autoimmunity and autoinflammatory responses. Pyroptosis and necroptosis are closely interlinked and cross-regulated. Different from apoptosis， these two cellular suicide mechanisms cause membrane rupture and release of cell contents through their respective gasdermin D （GSDMD） and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein （MLKL）， with damage-associated molecular patterns （DAMPs） and inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-1β （IL-1β） involved to trigger inflammation， and chronic inflammatory responses are key factors leading to the progression of DKD. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has long been employed for the prevention and treatment of DKD and the resulting clinical outcomes are remarkable. TCM has been proved to exert a protective effect against DKD by affecting the expression of nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） inflammasome， receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 （RIPK3）， and MLKL. This paper reviewed the relationship of pyroptosis and necroptosis with DKD and its intervention with TCM.

Effect of Danggui Buxuetang on Podocyte Pyroptosis in Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats： An Exploration Based on TXNIP/NLRP3/GSDMD Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Danggui Buxuetang on podocyte pyroptosis in diabetic kidney disease （DKD） rats and to explore the possible mechanism of its prevention and treatment of DKD and podocyte pyroptosis. MethodEight of the 50 male SD rats were randomly classified into a normal group， and the remaining 42 were fed a high-glucose and high-fat diet for six weeks and then intraperitoneally injected with 35 mg·kg-1 streptozotocin （STZ） for inducing type 2 diabetes. After successful modeling， they were randomized into the model group， low- （0.72 g·kg-1） and high-dose （1.44 g·kg-1） Danggui Buxuetang group， and irbesartan （0.017 g·kg-1） group and gavaged with the corresponding drugs， while those in the normal group and model group with an equal volume of normal saline， once per day， for 20 weeks. During the medication， the fasting blood glucose （FBG） and 24 h urine protein （24 h-UTP） were measured regularly. After administration， the pathological changes in renal tissues were observed by periodic acid-silver metheramine （PASM） staining， followed by the observation of ultrastructural changes in podocytes under the transmission electron microscope （TEM）. Serum levels of interleukin-1β （IL-1β） and interleukin-18 （IL-18） were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The DNA damage in renal tissue cells of rats was detected by in situ nick end-labeling （TUNEL） assay. The protein expression levels of thioredoxin interacting protein （TXNIP）， cysteine-dependent aspartate-directed protease-1 （Caspase-1）， and gasdermin D （GSDMD） in renal tissues of rats were detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC）， the expression levels of nucleotide binding domain like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3） and Wilms tumor protein-1 （WT-1） in podocytes by immunofluorescent （IF） staining， and the expression levels of TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway proteins and Synaptopodin in renal podocytes by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited increased FBG and 24 h UTP， glomerular hypertrophy， mesangial hyperplasia， increased extracellular matrix， thickened basement membrane， K-W nodules， vacuolar degeneration in renal tubular epithelial cells， foot process fusion or loss， elevated serum IL-1β and IL-18 levels and TUNEL-positive cells in renal tissue， enhanced NLRP3 but diminished WT-1 expression in podocytes， down-regulated Synaptopodin protein expression， and up-regulated TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD protein expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Danggui Buxuetang high-dose group remarkably lowered FBG， 24-h UTP， and TUNEL-positive cells in renal tissue， improved renal histopathology and podocyte injury and loss， down-regulated NLRP3 expression in podocytes and TXNIP/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD protein expression levels， and up-regulated WT-1 expression in podocytes and Synaptopodin protein expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDanggui Buxuetang inhibits podocyte pyroptosis to reduce proteinuria and delays the development of DKD possibly by regulating the TXNIP/NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathway.

Effect of Danggui Buxuetang on Podocyte Injury in Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats： An Exploration Based on RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL Signaling Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Danggui Buxuetang on the podocyte injury and receptor-interacting protein kinase 1/receptor-interacting protein kinase3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein （RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL） signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease （DKD） ratsand to explore its possible mechanism against DKD. MethodEight of the 50 SD rats were randomly classified intoa normal group， and the remaining were fed a high-glucose and high-fat diet for six weeks and then intraperitoneally injected with 0.035 g·kg-1streptozotocin （STZ） for inducing type 2 diabetes. After successful modeling，they were randomized into the model group，high- and low-dose （1.44，0.72 g·kg-1） Danggui Buxuetang groups， and irbesartan （0.017 g·kg-1）group. After 20 weeks of drug intervention， the fasting blood glucose （FBG）， kidney index （KI），and urinary microalbumin-to-urine creatinine ratio （UACR）were detected in each group. The pathological changes in renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining， followed by the observation of ultrastructural changes in podocytes under the transmission electron microscope. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-6 （IL-6） in renal tissue of rats were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）， and the protein expression levels of RIPK1， RIPK3， and MLKL in rat kidney tissue by immunohistochemistry. The apoptosis rate of podocytes was detected by in situ nick end-labeling （TUNEL） assay. The mRNA expression levels of RIPK1， RIPK3， and MLKL in kidney tissue of rats were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein expression levels of RIPK， RIPK3， and MLKL and podocyte marker Wilms tumor protein-1 （WT-1） in rat kidney tissue were assayed by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited elevated FBG， UACR， and KI （P<0.01）， glomerular hypertrophy， thickened basement membrane， increased extracellular matrix， mesangial hyperplasia， foot process fusion or loss， enhanced apoptosis in renal tissue， up-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 levels （P<0.01） and RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL mRNA and protein expression （P<0.01）， and down-regulated WT-1 protein expression. Compared with the model group， Danggui Buxuetang high-dose group significantly reduced the levels of FBG， UACR， and KI， improved renal histopathology， podocyte loss， and apoptosis in renal tissue， down-regulated TNF-α and IL-6 levels and RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL mRNA and protein expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and up-regulated WT-1 protein expression. ConclusionDanggui Buxuetang alleviates podocyte injury and delays the development of DKD possibly by regulating the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway.

Danggui Buxuetang Alleviates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats by Improving Mitochondrial Dysfunction of Podocytes / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the intervention effect of Danggui Buxuetang on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in diabetic kidney disease （DKD） rats from its improvement of podocyte mitochondrial dysfunction. MethodSD rats were randomly divided into the control group and modeling group， and the ones in the latter group rats were fed a high-glucose and high-fat diet and then intraperitoneally injected with a small dose of streptozotocin （STZ） for inducing type 2 diabetes. The successfully modeled rats were randomized into the model group， high- and low-dose （1.44 and 0.72 g·kg-1） Danggui Buxuetang groups， and irbesartan （0.017 g·kg-1）group and gavaged with the corresponding drugs， while those in the normal and model groups with an equal volume of normal saline. After 20 weeks of drug intervention， the urinary microalbumin-to-urine creatinine ratio （UACR） and serum malondialdehyde （MDA） content and manganese superoxide dismutase （MnSOD） activity in each group were measured. The pathological changes in renal tissue were observed by Masson trichrome staining， and periodic acid-silver metheramine （PASM） staining， followed by the observation of ultrastructural changes in podocytes under the transmission electron microscope （TEM）. The expression level of reactive oxygen species （ROS） in rat kidney tissue was detected using a fluorescent probe dihydroethidium （DHE）. The protein expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ -coactivator -1α （PGC-1α）， nucleotide-binding domain like receptor protein 3 （NLRP3）， and Wilms tumor protein-1 （WT-1） were measured by immunohistochemistry （IHC）， and the expression levels of NLRP3， interleukin-1β （IL-1β），and WT-1 in podocytes by immunofluorescence （IF） assay. The mRNA expression levels of PGC-1α and NLRP3 in the renal tissues were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， and the protein expression levels of PGC-1α， MnSOD， NLRP3， and IL-1β were assayed by Western blot. ResultCompared with the normal group， the model group exhibited elevated UACR and MDA content， weakened MnSOD activity （P<0.01）， glomerular hypertrophy， thickened basement membrane， mesangial hyperplasia， increased extracellular matrix， K-W nodules， podocyte mitochondrial swelling， disordered mitochondrial cristae， foot process fusion or loss， vacuolization， increased ROS （P<0.01）， enhanced NLRP3 and IL-1β but diminished WT-1 expression in podocytes， down-regulated PGC-1α mRNA expression （P<0.01） and PGC-1α and MnSOD protein expression （P<0.01）， and up-regulated NLRP3 mRNA expression and NLRP3 and IL-1β protein expression （P<0.01）. Compared with the model group， Danggui Buxuetang high-dose group significantly decreased UACR and MDA， enhanced MnSOD activity （P<0.05， P<0.01）， improved renal histopathology and podocyte mitochondrial ultrastructure， decreased ROS （P<0.05， P<0.01） and NLRP3 and IL-1β expression in podocytes， enhanced WT-1 expression in podocytes， up-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of PGC-1α and MnSOD， and down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionDanggui Buxuetang alleviates oxidative stress， reduces inflammatory response， protects kidney， and delays the progression of DKD possibly by improving the mitochondrial dysfunction in podocytes of DKD rats.

Effect of Guanxin Danshen Formulation on diabetic kidney disease in db/db mice through regulation of Nrf2 pathway / 中国中药杂志

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD) has become a primary cause of end-stage kidney disease, without any effective treatment available. In this study, we assessed the protective effect of Guanxin Danshen Formulation(GXDSF) on diabetic nephropathy in db/db mice. The db/m and db/db mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group, model group, metformin group, and GXDSF group. After 8 weeks' treatment with GXDSF, metformin or normal saline, the mice were sacrificed, and the blood and kidney tissues were collected for the further analysis. Compared with the model group, TG, TCH and LDL levels significantly decreased in the GXDSF group. The results from HE and PAS staining showed that db/db mice exhibited abnormal kidney tissues with increased glomerular volume, basement-membrane thickening and mesangial cell proliferation, which could be significantly alleviated by GXDSF treatment. GXDSF treatment also reduced serum creatinine and BUN. Meanwhile, GXDSF treatment markedly elevated GSH-PX levels, while reduced LDH and MDA levels in the kidney tissues. Western blot assay showed that GXDSF evidently up-regulated protein levels of ERα and p-Akt, and subsequently promoted HO-1 expression mediated by Nrf2. These data collectively indicated that GXDSF protects db/db mice against DN by regulating ERα and Nrf2-mediated HO-1 expression.

Investigating Relationship Between Renal Damage and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Diabetic Kidney Disease Rats with Blood Stasis Syndrome Based on Combination of Disease and Syndrome / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To observe the effect of blood stasis syndrome on renal damage and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in diabetic kidney disease (DKD) rats, and to explore the relationship between renal syndrome of blood stasis damage and ERS in DKD rats. Method:The 50 Male SD rats of SPF level were selected to establish DKD rat model by high fat and high sugar diet combined with intra-abdominal injection of streptozotocin(STZ). They were randomly divided into normal group, diabetes mellitus group and diabetes mellitus and blood stasis syndrome group（0.05 mg·kg-1）, among which diabetes mellitus and blood stasis syndrome group was prepared by dextran method. The general conditions, hemorheology indexes, 24 h urine protein, serum creatinine and renal pathology of the rats in each group were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis, Western blot and Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR)were used to detect mRNA and protein expressions of endoplasmic reticulum stress-related proteins glucose regulated protein 78(GRP78), activating transcription factor-6(ATF6) and renal fibrosis index fibronectin(FN), and alpha smooth muscle actin(α-SMA). Result:Compared with normal group, the rats in diabetes mellitus group showed polyphagia, polyuria and weight loss, increased hemorheology index of whole blood viscosity and plasma viscosity(P<0.05，P<0.01), increased 24 h urine protein, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen(P<0.01), and increased renal pathology, and increased mRNA and protein expression of GRP78, ATF6, FN and α-SMA(P<0.05，P<0.01). After dextran preparation of blood stasis model. Diabetes mellitus and blood stasis syndrome group increased mortality, signs of change is more obvious in the diabetic group, whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity, 24 h urine protein ration, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen were significantly higher than those in diabetic rats(P<0.01), pathological changes aggravated in the diabetes group. At the same time， mRNA and protein expressions of GRP78, ATF6, FN, and α-SMA in renal tissue were significantly higher than those in diabetic mellitus group(P<0.05，P<0.01). Conclusion:Under the combined disease and syndrome model, the blood stasis syndrome may further aggravate the pathological damage of the kidney of DKD rats, and is related to the enhancement of ERS in the kidney of DKD rats.

Clinical Effect of Jinlida and Tongxinluo on Type 2 Diabetic Kidney Disease Under Vessel Collateral Theory / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of Jinlida (JLD) granules and Tongxinluo (TXL) capsules on type 2 diabetic kidney disease (DKD) under the guidance of vessel collateral theory. Method: A total of 120 patients with type 2 DKD, were randomly divided into 2 groups:the normal control group (60 cases) and the treatment group (60 cases). The patients in normal control group were treated with dietary control and hyperglycemia control. Based on treatment in control group, patients in treatment group were additionally treated with JLD granules (1 bag, tid), and TXL capsules (4 capsules, tid). The treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. The clinical efficacy, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndrome scores were observed and compared before and after treatment. At the same time, the levels of glucose metabolism indexes including fasting blood glucose (FBG),postprandial 2 h plasma glucose (2 hPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the insulin resistance (IR); the levels of lipid metabolism indexes including total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); the levels of renal function indexes including urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) and serum creatinine (SCr); as well as nailfold microcirculation were detected and compared. Result: ①The total effective rate was 80.0% in treatment group, significantly higher than 61.67% in the normal control group (PPPPPβ2-MG in treatment group was significantly obvious than that in the control group (PPConclusion: Tongxinluo combined with Jinlida can improve the clinical symptoms of patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy and reduce urinary trace albumin, and its mechanism may be related to lowering glucose, regulating lipid metabolism and improving microcirculation.

Relationship between high serum uric acid level and short-term progression of albuminuria in hospitalized diabetic patients / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective: To explore the risk factors associated with short-term progression of albuminuria in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The retrospective cohort study design was performed to consecutively recruit 210 hospitalized T2DM patients who met the inclusion criteria, including 102 males and 108 females from April 2010 to April 2015. The data of the patients twice in hospital (as baseline and follow-up information, respectively), including general data, biochemical examinations and medication were collected. Multivariate Logistic analysis was used to explore the potential risk factors for baseline albuminuria and short-term progression of albuminuria. Results: Serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in the patients with macroalbuminuria ( ≥ 300 mg/24 h) than those in the patients without albuminuria (< 30 mg/24 h) at baseline (P=0.002). Among the 207 patients (excluding 3 samples with missing data) during the second hospitalization, 51 patients (24.6%) had progress in albuminuria and 156 patients (75.4%) had none. Serum uric acid levels were significantly higher in the progression group than those in the non-progression group (P=0.009). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high serum uric acid level was an independent risk factor for progression of albuminuria in T2DM patients (OR=1.349, 95%CI 1.014-1.793, P=0.040). Conclusion: The high serum uric acid level may be an independent risk factor for short-term progression of albuminuria, and early intervention with hyperuricemia might delay the progression of diabetic kidney disease in T2DM patients.

Protection of Huidouba, a Tibetan medicine on renal injury in STZ-induced type Ⅱ diabetic mice / 中成药

AIM To study the efficacy of different extractions of Huidouba,a Tibetan medicine to mice with type Ⅱ diabetic kidney disease (DKD).METHODS The type Ⅱ DKD mice models induced by the injection of streptozotocin (STZ) on base of high glucose and high fat diet subsequently treated with different extractions of Huidouba were studied to investigate the protective effects of Huidouba on renal injury.The mice were given high dose (200 mg/kg) and low dose (100 mg/kg) of Huidouba ethanol extract,Huidouba water extract and Huidouba polysaccharide respectively for 8 weeks.Their serum creatinine (SCr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),urine protein (mg/24 h),glycosylated serum protein (Gsp) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs),their histological changes of renal pathology were detected and analyzed.Meanwhile their protein levels of fibronectin (FN),intercellular adhesion factor (ICAM-1) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) were identified by Western blot.RESULTS The different extractions of Huidouba,demonstrating a portfolio of capacity in decreasing levels of serum glucose and AGEs,inhibiting the expression of target protein,alleviating the glomerular basement membrane thickening,improving mesangial matrix,renal tubular and epithelial cells degeneration and other pathological conditions,improved the renal function of DKD mice.CONCLUSION The three extractions of Huidouba highlight the renal improvements in type Ⅱ DKD mice.

Effect of Danzhi Jiangtang Capsules on Serum Interleukin-18, Cystatin C and Relative Biochemical Indexes in Patients with Early Diabetic Kidney Disease / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To observe the effect of Danzhi Jiangtang Capsules(DJC) on serum interleukin-18 (IL-18),cystatin C (CysC) and relative biochemical indexes in patients with early diabetic kidney disease(DKD),and to explore its protective action on the kidney.Methods Sixty-two hospitalized patients with early diabetic nephropathy (period 11-Ⅲ) in Endocrinology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were divided into western medicine group and DJC group,31 cases in each group.The patients in western medicine group received conventional hypoglycemic drugs,and DJC group received DJC based on the treatment for the western medicine group.Before and after treatment,we observed the levels of serum IL-18,CysC,fasting plasma glucose (FPG),2-hour postprandial glucose (2hPG),glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c),serum creatinine (SCr),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),microalbumin (mAlb),urinary albumin /creatinine ratio (UACR),and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).Results The total effective rate was 90.0％ in DJC group and 76.7％ in the western medicine group,there being significant difference between the two groups(P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the main traditional Chinese medical syndrome scores of DJC group were significantly lower than those before treatment,and the improvement was better than that of the western medicine group (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).After treatment,the serum levels of IL-18,CysC,2hPG,SCr,BUN,mAlb,UACR in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01),while eGFR level was higher than that before treatment (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01),and the improvement effect (except for BUN) in the DJC group was superior to that in the western medicine group(P ＜ 0.01).DJC had an effect on lowering the FPG and HbA1c (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 compared with those before treatment),and the western medicine had no obvious effect on the two indexes (P ＞ 0.05).The results of Spearman correlation analysis showed that IL-18 was correlated with CysC,IL-18 and CysC were correlated with HbA1c,mALB and uACR.Conclusion DJC can protect renal function of patients with early diabetic nephropathy.