Fu-Fang-Jin-Qian-Cao herbal granules protect against the calcium oxalate-induced renal EMT by inhibiting the TGF-β/smad pathway. (1st January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Wen-Rui; Lu, Hong-Tao; Zhao, Ting-Ting; Ding, Jia-Rong; Si, Ya-Chen; Chen, Wei; Hou, Jie-Bin; Gao, Song-Yan; Dong, Xin; Yu, Bing; Guo, Zhi-Yong; Lu, Jian-Rao
• Is Part Of: Pharmaceutical biology. Volume 58:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 1124
• Page End: 1131
• Publication Date: 2020-01-01
• Subjects: Oxalate crystals -- renal fibrosis -- traditional Chinese medicine; Pharmacognosy -- Periodicals; Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; 615.321
• DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2020.1844241
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1388-0209

Abstract

Abstract: Context: Nephrolithiasis is a major public health problem worldwide and Fu-Fang-Jin-Qian-Cao granules (FFJQC) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula that is used to treat nephrolithiasis. The main component of nephrolithiasis is calcium oxalate (CaOx) and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) shown to play a crucial role in CaOx-induced kidney injury. However, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of FFJQC on the CaOx-induced renal EMT is unknown. Objective: This study explores the therapeutic benefits and mechanism of FFJQC in oxalate-induced kidney injury. Materials and methods: 60 male C57BL/6 mice were used in this experiment and divided into 6 groups. A mouse kidney stone model was created by intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylate at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 6 days. The standardized FFJQC was used to treat mouse crystal kidney injury by gavage at 1.35 and 2.7 g/kg, respectively. Western blotting and immunostaining for E-cadherin, cytokeratin 18 (CK18), vimentin, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway were conducted on renal tissues. Results: Following CaOx-induced kidney injury, the levels of E-cadherin and CK18 in kidney decreased, while vimentin and α-SMA levels increased. The FFJQC treatment increased the levels of E-cadherin and CK18 and decreased vimentin and α-SMA levels in varying degrees. What's more, the FFJQC reduced the expression of CaOx-induced fibrosis marker collagen II. Conclusion: FFJQC alleviated the CaOx-induced renal EMT and fibrosis by regulating TGF-β/smad pathway. Therefore, the FFJQC is an important traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of CaOx-induced renal injury and fibrosis.