Effects of Qufengtongluo recipe on proteinuria and glomerular filtration membrane in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the therapeutic effect of Qufengtongluo (QFTL) recipe against proteinuria and glomerular filtration membrane damage in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-six SD rats were randomized into normal control (A) and AN model groups. In the AN model group, the rat AN models established by a single intravenous injection of adriamycin via the tail vein were subdivided into model (B), QFTL recipe (C), prednisone (D), and benazepril (E) groups 3 weeks after adriamycin injection. The 24-h urinary protein level was measured and the expression of anionic sites on the filtration membrane was evaluated using electron microscope with PEI staining. Nephrin expression on the glomerular filtration membrane was detected with indirect immunofluorescence assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with group A, the model group showed significantly increased level of 24-h urinary protein (P<0.01), suggesting successful establishment of the AN model. Treatment with QFTL recipe obviously lowered the 24-h urinary protein (P<0.01), and increased the expression of anionic sites and nephrin on the glomerular filtration membrane in the AN rats (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QFTL recipe can effectively decrease 24-h urinary protein, improve the symptoms, and up-regulate the expressions of anionic sites and nephrin on the glomerular filtration membrane in rats with AN.</p>

Effects of Qufengtongluo Recipe on podocin mRNA expression and podocyte morphology in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Qufengtongluo Recipe (QFTLR) on the expression of podocin mRNA and podocyte morphology in rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN), and explore the possible mechanism mediating the therapeutic effect of QFTLR on nephropathic proteinuria.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD rats were randomized into normal control group, AN model group (established by a single injection of adriamycin via the tail vein), and 3 intervention groups with QFTLR, prednisone, or benazepril treatment. After the corresponding treatments, the expression of podocin mRNA in the renal tissues was detected by RT-PCR methods, and the morphological changes of the podocytes were examined by electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the normal control group, the AN model group showed significantly lowered expressions of podocin mRNA (P<0.01) with reduced podocytes and widening, fusion or even absence of the foot processes (FP). Intervention with QFTLR significantly increased the expression of podocin mRNA (P<0.01) and the number of podocytes, and obviously lessened the structural changes of the FP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QFTLR can produce therapeutic effect against nephropathic proteinuria possibly by up-regulating the expression of podocin mRNA and improving the morphological changes of the podocytes.</p>

Qufeng Tongluo decoction inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced rat mesangial cell proliferation in vitro by suppressing NF-kappaB activation and reducing TGF-beta1 and IL-6 mRNA expressions / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Qufeng Tongluo (QFTL) decoction on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat mesangial cell proliferation and explore the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two rats were randomized into normal control, glomerulonephritis model, QFTL treatment and positive control groups, and serum samples were obtained from these groups. Rat mesangial cells with or without LPS exposure were treated with the sera, and the expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB ) was detected using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and the expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNAs were detected with RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>QFTL decoction inhibited the activation of NF-kappaB in LPS-stimulated rat mesangial cells stimulated by LSP, and lowered the expressions of TGF-beta1 and IL-6 mRNA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>QFTL decoction can inhibit LPS-induced rat mesangial cell proliferation by decreasing the expression of TGF-beta1 and IL-6 mRNA as a result of suppression NF-kappaB activation.</p>

Study on effect of yishen capsule in preventing recurrence of chronic glomerulonephritis / 中国结合医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of yishen capsule (YSC) on preventing the recurrence of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and to explore its mechanism preliminarily.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CGN patients were assigned to the treated group (61 cases) and the control group (48 cases) and all of them were orally administered with 4 mg of Perindopril twice a day, but 3 capsules of YSC, thrice a day, were given additionally to patients in the treated group. The therapeutic course for both groups was 18 months. The recurrence rate of CGN at the 6th, 12th, and 18th month in the two groups was observed and compared, and the changes of 24-h urinary protein quantity and T-lymphocyte subsets before and after treatment were observed as well.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Comparison of recurrence rate between the two groups showed insignificant difference at the 6th month, but it did show significant difference at the 12th and the 18th month, which was significantly decreased in the treated group than in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.01); (2) The 24-h urinary protein quantity at the 18th month decreased significantly in both groups (P<0.05, P<0.01), but in the treated group was more significant (P<0.01); (3) T-lymphocyte subsets showed no obvious change in the control group after treatment (P>0.05), while in the treated group, it showed significant increase in CD3, CD4 and CD4/CD8 (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and significant decrease in CD8 (P<0.05), and also the difference after treatment in T-lymphocyte subsets between the two groups was significant (P<0.05 or P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>YSC has marked effects in reducing the recurrence of CGN and in decreasing urinary protein, and its mechanism might be related with its function in regulating the ratio of T-lymphocyte subsets to enhance the immunity of patients.</p>