Effect of Wenyangxiaozheng decoction on renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomy mice and its possible mechanism
YU Kena1, HE Liqun2, LIN Xiaomeng1, CAI Xudong1
1.Department of Nephropathy, Ningbo Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningbo 315000, China; 2.Department of Nephropathy, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200021, China
YU Kena,HE Liqun,LIN Xiaomeng, et al. Effect of Wenyangxiaozheng decoction on renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomy mice and its possible mechanism[J]. JOURNAL OF WEZHOU MEDICAL UNIVERSITY, 2022, 52(7): 524-531，538.
Abstract：Objective: To observe the effect of Wenyangxiaozheng decoction on renal function and renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6N) mice and explore its mechanism. Methods: Out of 32 C57 mice 24 were randomly chosen to establish 5/6N model which closely simulated the process of human chronic renal failure and renal fibrosis. Two weeks after the operation, 24 mice were divided as 5/6N group, diovan group and wenyangxiaozheng decoction group according to the value of serum creatinine. The other 8 mice were treated as sham operation group. Eight weeks after the treatment, the protein expression of JAK2, STAT3, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), Smad3 was determined by Western blot; the protein expression of Collagen-I (Col-I), Collgaen-III (Col-III) and α-SMA was determined by both Western blot and immunohistochemistry, TGF-β1, Smad3 mRNA were determined by RT-qPCR. Results: Eight weeks after the treatment, the protein expression of JAK2, STAT3, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, TGF-β1, Smad3, Col-I, Col-III, α-SMA and TGF-β1, Smad3 mRNA expression in 5/6N group was significantly upregulated when compared with that of sham group (P<0.01); compared with 5/6N group, the protein expression of JAK2, STAT3, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, TGF-β1, Col-I, Col-III, α-SMA and TGF-β1, Smad3 mRNA expression was obviously downregulated in diovan group and wenyangxiaozheng decoction group (P<0.01); compared with diovan group, indexes were all downregulated in wenyangxiaozheng decoction group (P<0.01) except TGF-β1 and α-SMA. Conclusion: Wenyangxiaozheng decoction could protect renal function and reduce the degree of renal fibrosis in 5/6N mice, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad3 and JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
