Protective effect of astragaloside on renal injury induced by radiation through toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa B pathway / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore whether astragaloside IV (AS-IV) can protect radiation-induced kidney injury through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated signaling pathway. Methods The mice were randomly divided into normal control group, DMSO solvent group, irradiation group (IR), IR + AS-IV 20 mg/kg group and IR + AS-IV 40 mg/kg group. One month after intraperitoneal injection of AS-IV, the mice were irradiated with 8 Gy 60Coγ and to the content of serum creatinine (Cr) and uric acid (BUA) in serum were determined, HE and immunohistochemical staining, and expression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway related protein in kidney were performed. Results Compared with the control group, the levels of Cr and BUA in the serum of the radiation group increased significantly (P<0.001), glomerular atrophy and tubular expansion, TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88(MyD88) positive expression increased significantly (P< 0.001), and the expression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins[ TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, interleukin-1 β (IL-Iβ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α)] increased significantly (P< 0.01); AS-IV pretreatment can reduce the content of Cr and BUA in serum (P<0.05, P<0.01 or P<0.001), significantly improve the pathological response caused by radiation, and reduce the expression of TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion AS-IV may down-regulate the release of inflammatory factors through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby improving radiation-induced kidney injury in mice and playing a protective role.