ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effects of warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with chronic renal failure caused by 5/6 nephrectomy and explore its mechanisms. Methods Eight rats were randomly chosen as sham operation group (Sham), while the remaining 24 rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy were divided into model group (5/6Nx), warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method group (WDD) and Niaoduqing group (NDQ), and the rats in each group were administrated with corresponding drugs. After the intervention of 12 weeks, all the rats were sacrificed and the kidneys were then removed. HE, PAS Masson, Picrosirius red staining were conducted to assess kidney pathological changes and renal fibrosis. The protein expression of Collagen was tested by both immunofluorescence and Western blotting, and the mRNA expression was evaluated using qRT-PCR. The expression of protein related with the process of EMT, including α-SMA, E-Cadherin and Vimentin, were tested with immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results Compared with the model group, warming yang-dispelling method alleviated kidney pathological injury and renal fibrosis, and significantly down-regulated the protein and mRNA expression of Collagen . Moreover, warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method regulated the process of EMT by decreasing the high expression of α-SMA and Vimentin, and increasing the low expression of E-Cadherin. Conclusion Warming yang-dispelling turbidity-dredging collaterals method can effectively attenuate renal fibrosis and injury and its underlying mechanisms may be related with its inhibitory effects on Collagen expression and regulation of EMT.