Amiloride, a urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uTPA) inhibitor, reduces proteinurea in podocytes

This study examined the mechanism of action of amiloride, a urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor inhibitor, in lowering proteinuria. Podocytes were resuscitated to allow for their proliferation and were observed for morphological changes. In the in vitro experiment, control, lipopolysaccharide, and lipopolysaccharide + amiloride groups were established. The expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in podocytes was detected with a flow cytometer and cell motility was detected with the transwell migration assay. In the in vivo test, the urine protein volume of the model was detected at 24 h using Coomassie brilliant blue staining and the morphological changes of the podocytes were detected with immunofluorescence. The protein expression rate of uPAR in the lipopolysaccharide group was significantly higher than those in the control and lipopolysaccharide + amiloride groups (P < 0.05). The viability of cells in the lipopolysaccharide group was significantly higher than those in the control and lipopolysaccharide + amiloride groups (P < 0.05). Compared with the urine protein level in the control group at 24 h, the level in the lipopolysaccharide group increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas compared with the urine protein level in the lipopolysaccharide group, the level in the lipopolysaccharide + amiloride group decreased (P < 0.05). uPAR expression was significantly downregulated, and the fusion of the podocyte-specific skelemin synaptopodin on the glomerulus podocytes was significantly decreased in the lipopolysaccharide + amiloride group. These results suggest that amiloride is able to reduce cell motility and thus lower proteinuria by inhibiting the expression of uPAR in podocytes.