Anti-apoptotic effect of Icariin on renal tubular epithelial cell in SHR / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aims To observe the effect of Icariin( Ica) on apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell in spontane-ously hypertensive rats( SHR) , and to explore its pos-sible mechanism. Methods 21 male SHR of 14 weeks were randomly divided into model groups, the Ica low and high dose groups (20 or 40 mg·kg-1 ,ig, bid, to 26 weeks ) , 14 week-old male homologous Kyoto rats ( WKY ) as control group, and the number of each group was 7 . WKY group and model group were ad-ministered by gavage with the same volume of double distilled water. The pathological changes were observed by using the HE staining and the apoptosis was detec-ted by TUNEL method in renal tubular epithelial cell, respectively. The mRNA levels of Bok, Bax, Bcl-2 were detected by the real time RT-PCR and the protein expressions of Bcl-2 , Bax and Active caspase-3 were detected by Western blot method in the renal tissue. Results Compared with WKY, renal capsule was nar-row and irregular, and glomerular mesangial matrix was increased with the cell arrangement disorder and the capillary dilation and congestion. Several glomeruli shrank and renal tubular epithelial cell was edema with luminal stenosis in model group. The apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell was evident and the mRNA levels of Bok and Bax, as well as the protein expressions of Bax and Active caspase-3 were significantly up-regula-ted in model group, while the mRNA Level and protein expression of Bcl-2 significantly down-regulated ( P <0. 05 or P<0. 01). Compared with model group, renal glomerular capsule widened, proliferation of glomerular mesangial matrix was reduced, and cell arrangement disorder and capillary dilation and renal tubular lumen stenosis were improved in Ica group. Renal tubular ep-ithelial cell apoptosis was decreased evidently, and the mRNA level of Bax, Bok and protein expression of Bax were significantly down-regulated in Ica group, and the mRNA level and protein expression of Bcl-2 in Ica-H group were significantly up-regulated while the protein expression of Active caspase-3 significantly down-regu-lated( P <0. 05 or P <0. 01 ) . Conclusion Ica can inhibit the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cell in spontaneously hypertensive rats and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of Bok, Bax, and Active caspase-3 , accompanied with the up-regulation of Bcl-2 .