Protective effect of Mori Cortex on kidney in rats with hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia based on molecular docking technique / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the mechanism of total flavonoids of Mori Cortex (TFMC) in improving hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia related nephropathy. Methods The molecular structure of URAT1 protein and structure of Mori Cortex total flavonoids extract were docked by selecting the effective components of total flavonoids extract of Mori Cortex and related genes of uric acid. Forty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups normal group, model group, TFMC group (1.0 g/kg) and benzbromarone group (6.25 mg/kg). The hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia model was established by feeding with high fat diet plus adenine and ethylamine butanol. After 16 weeks, the levels of blood glucose and blood lipids in serum, uric acid (UA), creatinine (CRE), and urea nitrogen (BUN) of rats in each group were compared. The renal pathological changes were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining. The expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), uric acid anion exchange transporter 1 (URAT1) and organic anion transporter 1 (OAT1) were detected by qRT-PCR. Results The main component of moracin of total flavonoids of Mori Cortex was the high target of the genes related to uric acid, suggesting that the moracin might be the main active component in the improvement of hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia related nephropathy. After 16 weeks of drug intervention, the serum levels of Glu, TC, TG, LDL-C, UA, CRE and BUN in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group, and the level of HDL-C in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group (P < 0.05, 0.01). Compared with the model group, the above biochemical indexes in the TFMC group and the benzbromarone group were significantly decreased and HDL-C was significantly increased (P < 0.05, 0.01). The results of HE staining showed that the epithelial cells of renal tubules in the model group were swollen and necrotized, and the protein tubules could be seen in the renal tubules. In the TFMC group, some renal tubular epithelial cells were slightly swollen, and no inflammatory cells infiltrated around them. The structures of renal cortex and medullary were clear, and no hyperplasia or atrophy in glomerular were found, no tubular type and inflammatory cell infiltration in renal interstitial tissue of rats in benzbrommarone group were observed. The results of qRT-PCR showed that, compared with the normal group, the content of IL-6, TNF-α, and URAT1 mRNA was significantly increased, the content of OAT1 mRNA was significantly decreased in the model group; The content of above indicators was decreased and OAT1 was increased after drug intervention, (P < 0.05, 0.01). Conclusion The improvement of hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia associated nephropathy may be related to the regulation of IL-6, TNF-α, URAT1, and OAT1 mRNA. Mori Cortex has obvious influence on the key factor of hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia with URAT1 as its potential target, and the results of molecular virtual docking and animal experiments are similar. It provides a theoretical basis for further study on the improvement of hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia related nephropathy and provides a reference for the further molecular mechanism.