Objective:To investigate the mechanism of action of Fuzheng Huayu Formula(扶正化瘀方,FZHY)against renal interstitial fibrosis(RIF)relating to oxidative injury and nuclear factor-kappa B(NF-κB)activity.Methods:Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal group,model group and FZHY treatment group.The RIF model was induced by oral administration of HgC l2 at a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight once a day for 9 weeks.Meanwhile,rats in FZHY treatment group orally took FZHY at a dose of4.0 g/kg rat weight for 9 weeks.The content of hydroxyproline(Hyp)and collagen deposition in kidney were observed.The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px),the content of glutathione(GSH)and malondialdehyde(MDA)of kidney were tested.The expressions of inhibitor-κappa B(IκB),phospho-IκB(p-IκB),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2)andα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)were analyzed by Western blot.α-SMA expression was also observed by immunofluorescent staining.MMP-2 activity was measured by gelatin zymography.NF-κB activation was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Results:Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by Hg Cl2,demonstrated by remarkably increased Hyp contents and excessive collagen deposition in kidney(P<0.01).FZHY significantly inhibited renal interstitial collagen deposition and reduced Hyp content of the Hg Cl2-treated rats(P<0.01).GSH content decreased obviously,and MDA content increased significantly in HgC l2-treated rats compared with that of normal rats(P<0.01).FZHY significantly increased GSH content and decreased MDA content in the model rats(P<0.01).The expressionα-SMA was increased in model rats compared with that of normal rats,FZHY significantly decreased its expression(P<0.01).The expressions of p-IκB and TNF-αand MMP-2,MMP-2 activity,and NF-κB activation were increased in model group compared with that in normal group(P<0.01),FZHY significantly decreased NF-κB activation,MMP-2 activity and p-IκB
Objective: MicroRNAs(miRNAs) may be viable targets for treating renal interstitial fibrosis(RIF). Fuzheng Huayu recipe(FZHY), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine, is often used in China to treat fibrosis. This study sought to assess the mechanisms through which FZHY influences miRNAs to treat RIF.Methods: RIF was induced in rats by mercury chloride and treated with FZHY. Hydroxyproline content,Masson’s staining and type I collagen expression were used to evaluate renal collagen deposition.Renal miRNA profiles were evaluated using a miRNA microarray. Those miRNAs that were differentially expressed following FZHY treatment were identified and subjected to bioinformatic analyses. The miR-21 target gene phosphatase and tensin homolog(PTEN) expression and AKT phosphorylation in kidney tissues were assessed via Western blotting. In addition, HK-2 human proximal tubule epithelial cells were treated using angiotensin II(Ang-II) to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT), followed by FZHY exposure. miR-21 and PTEN expressions were evaluated via quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR), while E-cadherin and a-smooth muscle actin(a-SMA) expressions were assessed by immunofluorescent staining and qRT-PCR. Western blotting was used to assess PTEN and AKT phosphorylation.Results: FZHY significantly decreased kidney collagen deposition, hydroxyproline content and type I collagen level. The miRNA microarray identified 20 miRNAs that were differentially expressed in response to FZHY treatment. Subsequent bioinformatic analyses found that miR-21 was the key fibrosis-related miRNA regulated by FZHY. FZHY also decreased PTEN expression and AKT phosphorylation in fibrotic kidneys. Results from in vitro tests also suggested that FZHY promoted E-cadherin upregulation and inhibited a-SMA expression in Ang-II-treated HK-2 cells, effectively reversing Ang-II-mediated EMT. We also determined that FZHY reduced miR-21 expression, increased PTEN expression and decreased AKT phosphorylation in
Qing-lan WangYan-yan TaoHong-dong XieCheng-hai LiuPing Liu
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide,which affects 25%of the general adult population and 70–80%of individuals with obesity and diabetes(1).
Fibrosis is the remodeling and repair processes of chronic injuries. There are few effective therapies. Chinese medicine formula, the main pattern of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) in clinic, applies a multi-component, multi-target and complicated approach in the treatment of diseases, and certainly shows good comprehensive therapeutic effects on fibrosis. In this review, the clinical study, effects and mechanism of action of Fuzheng Huayu recipe in the treatment of liver, pulmonary, and renal fibrosis was analyzed and evaluated. Meanwhile, based on the understanding of TCM pathogenesis for liver cirrhosis, this review will also briefly introduce the research of different classical Chinese medicine formulae with various functions in the treatment of experimental liver fibrosis induced by different methods, including comparing the efficacy, analyzing the action characteristics and mechanism of effective formulae, exploring pathological and biological basis of TCM diagnostic and therapeutic pattern, which will contribute to the research of TCM in the treatment of organ fibrosis.
