Effects of sulfonylureas, α-endosulfine counterparts, on glomerulosclerosis in type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes

Long-term treatment with sulfonylureas completely prevents glomerular injury in insulin-deficient diabetes in rats. However, this protective effect is not demonstrable in an insulin-resistant model of the disease. We postulate that mesangial α-endosulfine up-regulation in the hyperglycemic milieu of insulin-deficient diabetes may retard glomerular extracellular matrix formation and mesangial expansion.