Effect of Kangxianling Decoction on TGF-β1/Smad Signal Pathway in Renal Fibrosis Rats / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the therapeutic effect of Kangxianling Decoction on renal fibrosis induced by 5/6 nephrectomization in rats, and discuss its action mechanism. Method: Totally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10), sham-operation group (n=10), and 5/6 nephrectomized renal fibrosis model group (n=30). After successful modeling, rats were randomly divided into the model group, Kangxianling group, and Losartan Potassium group. Rats in the Losartan Potassium group were administered with Losartan Potassium by gastrogavage; rats in the Kangxianling group were administered with Kangxianling by gastrogavage. Equal volume of distilled water was administered to rats in the other groups. Rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks of consecutive medication, and then serum creatinine (SCr), urea nitrogen (BUN), 24 hour urine protein (24 h-Pro) were measured in each group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the renal pathological changes and the score of Kidney damage was made. Masson staining was used to observe the degree of renal fibrosis. Western blot and real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR) were used to detect the protein and mRNA expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), Smad2, Smad3, and Smad7 in kidneys. Result: As compared with the normal control and sham-operation group, the renal tissue fibrosis, score of kidney damage, SCr, BUN and 24 h-Pro levels were higher in model group (Pβ1, Smad2, and Smad3 (PPPβ1, Smad2, Smad3 were reduced (PPConclusion: Kangxianling decoction could alleviate renal fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad signal pathway.