Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of parthenolide (PTL) on high glucose-stimulated cell proliferation, NF-κB activation
and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression in rat mesangial cells (MCs). Methods MCs were cultured in
normal glucose (5.6 mmol/L), high glucose (30 mmol/L), or high glucose with PTL. MTT assay was used to detect the cell
proliferation. MCP-1 content in the supernatant was measured by ELISA, and the level of IκBα was detected by Western
blotting to reflect NF-κB activity. EMSA method was used to measure the activation of NF-κB. Results MC proliferation,
MCP-1 expression and NF-κB activation were significantly enhanced and the expression of NF-κB-binding protein IκBα was
obviously reduced in cells cultured in high glucose. Application of PTL obviously abolished the effects of high glucose.
Conclusion PTL can suppress high glucose-stimulated NF-κB activation and MCP-1 expression in rat MC. These data provide
a theoretical basis for the clinical application of PTL in prevention and control of diabetic nephropathy.