Epimedium combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation for treatment of kidney disease in rats / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:A large number of studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cels (BMSCs) with differentiation ability can be used to treat kidney injury. Epimedium has good anti-inflammatory and immune restoration ability. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of epimedium with BMSC transplantation on rat’s kidney disease caused by adriamycin nephrosis. METHODS:Fifty rats were equivalently randomized to receive no treatment in control group, tail vein injection of normal saline plus intragastric injection of normal saline in model group, tail vein injection of BMSCs plus intragastric injection of epimedium decoction in combined group, tail vein injection of BMSCs in BMSCs group, and intragastric injection of epimedium decoction in epimedium group. Rat models of adriamycin nephrosis were made in the latter four groups through tail vein injection of doxorubicin hydrochloride, while rats in the control group were only given the same volume of normal saline. Twenty-four hours after modeling, rats in the latter four groups began to be given the corresponding treatments. Epimedium decoction was given in the combined and epimedium groups at a dose of 1 mL/d, for consecutive 1 week. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with the model group, mitigated kidney injury and reduced urinary protein level were found in rats undergoing BMSCs and/or epimedium decoction treatment; the levels of plasma albumin and catalase were significantly increased in the combined group and epimedium group, while the levels of serum cholesterol, triglycerides and malondialdehyde decreased; the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor β1 in the kidney tissues was dramaticaly declined in the combined group and BMSC group. To conclude, the combined use of epimedium and BMSCs is superior to their use alone in the treatment of kidney disease.