Study on transdifferentiation of renal tubular cells in rat chronic renal interstitial fibrosis induced by Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi Extract / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between renal tubular cells transdifferentiation and chronic renal interstitial fibrosis induced by Fangchi Extract in rat.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The chronic renal interstitial fibrosis rat model was made by giving Radix Aristolochiae Fangchi extract (RAFE) and aristolichic acid (AA) respectively to rats through infusing stomach about 22 weeks discontinuously. Through immunnal histochemistry methods, investigating the expression of symbol proteins Cytokine( CK) , alpha-Smooth muscle actin ( alpha-SMA) and Vimentin, and also the important fibrosis inducing factor-Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta1 )on renal tubular cells.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In RAFE and AA Groups, the expression of CK on renal tubular cells is declined comparing with the Control Group, and the enhanced expression of alpha-SMA and Vimentin can be observed on tubular cells. The expression of TGF-beta1 on renal tubular cells stronglhy increased, too.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Part of the renal tubular cells was transdifferentiated into myofibroblasts. Renal tubular cells may participate the occurance of chronic renal interstitial fibrosis, TGF-beta1 may accelerate the transdifferentiation of tubular cells.</p>