Effect of Panax notoginseng saponins on cisplatin-induced kidney injury by enhancing mitochondrial autophagy via the HIF-1α/BNIP3 pathway / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible mechanism of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) protection against cisplatin-induced kidney injury through enhangcing autophagy. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into normal control group, cisplatin model group and cisplatin+PNS group. After exposure to cisplatin for 4 and 8 d, the urinary β-N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured by commercial kits, and the pathological change of renal tissue was examined using transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, the expression of LC3, HIF-1α, BNIP3 and Beclin1 were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: PNS decreased the levels of urinary NAG, serum BUN and Scr which were increased by cisplatin (P<0.05). Moreover, PNS significantly increased the expression of LC3, HIF-1α, BNIP3 and Beclin1 (P<0.05), and attenuated the mitochondrial damages of renal cells. Furthermore, the effects of PNS on the mentioned above were more obvious at day 8 than that at day 4 (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: PNS may play a protective role against cisplatin-induced kidney injury with certain of time dependence, by enhancing mitochondrial autophagy in rat renal tissue via the HIF-1α/BNIP3 pathway.