Protective effect and its mechanism of Shenkang injection on peritoneal mesothelial cells in CAPD mice / 天津医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the protective effect of Shenkang injection on peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) mice, and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Forty ICR mice were randomly divided into blank control (A) group, peritoneal dialysis (B) group, low dose of Shenkang (C) group ( 2.5%dialysate+5 mL/kg Shenkang injection), medium (D) group (2.5% dialysate+10 mL/kg Shenkang injection) and high (E) group (2.5% dialysate+ 20 mL/kg Shenkang injection). Mice were observed for 4 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and C-reactive protein (CRP) were detected by biochemical assay. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) levels of serum and dialysate were detected by ELISA. Pathological changes of peritoneal tissue were observed by HE staining. Expression and mRNA transcription levels of these four cytokines in the peritoneal tissue were detected by immunohistochemical staining and real-time PCR respectively. Results There were no significant differences in body weight, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglyceride between 5 groups of mice (P>0.05). Compared with group B, there was no significant difference in CRP level between group C and group E, but which was significantly decreased in group D (P<0.05). The serum and dialysate levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF and CTGF were decreased in group C and group D. The serum and dialysate levels of TNF-αand TGF-β1 were significantly increased in group E (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between VEGF and CTGF in group E. Compared with group E, except for CTGF in dialysate of group C, the serum and dialysate levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF and CTGF were significant decreased in group C and group D (P<0.05). Damaged PMCs were found in group B, which were improved in various degrees in group C, group D and group E. Compared with group B, the protein expression and mRNA relative transcription levels of TNF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF and CTGF tended to decrease gradually in group C, group D and group E (P<0.05). Conclusion A certain concentration of Shenkang injection can protect PMCs by inhibiting the expression of TNF-α, TGF-β1, VEGF and CTGF in CAPD mice, so as to control the occurrence and development of peritoneal fibrosis.