Effects of Dahuang Zhechong Pill on expressions of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in rats with glomerulosclerosis / 中西医结合学报

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms of the beneficial effects of Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DHZCP), a Chinese patent herbal medicine, in treatment of chronic renal disease, and to investigate the effects of DHZCP on the expressions of renal tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) mRNAs in rats with adriamycin-induced glomerulosclerosis. METHODS: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and diffuse mesangial proliferation were induced in rats by combined procedures, including unilateral nephrectomy, intravenous injection of adriamycin and giving high-fat foods. The rats were randomly divided into untreated group, benazepril-treated group and DHZCP-treated group. Another 6 rats were sham-operated as control group. After 12-week treatment, rats were sacrificed, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method and computerized image analytical technique were used to determine the expressions of TIMP-1 and PAI-1 mRNAs. RESULTS: Compared with the untreated group, the ratios of TIMP-1/beta-actin and PAI-1/beta-actin of the DHZCP-treated group were decreased, suggesting that DHZCP could down-regulate the expressions of TIMP-1 and PAI-1 mRNAs (P<0.05). Benazepril could significantly inhibit the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA compared with that of the untreated group (P<0.05) CONCLUSION: DHZCP can down-regulate the expressions of TIMP-1 and PAI-1 mRNAs in renal tissues of rats with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and diffuse mesangial proliferation, which may be its action mechanism in treating chronic renal disease.