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Huaiqihuang Granules (槐杞黄颗粒) reduce proteinuria by enhancing nephrin expression and regulating necrosis factor κB signaling pathway in adriamycin-induced nephropathy

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Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effects of Huaiqihuang Granules (槐杞黄颗粒, HQH), a mixture of Chinese herbs including Trametes robiniophila Murr, Fructus Lycii and Polygonatum sibiricum, on adriamycininduced nephropathy (ADRN) in rats and its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Rats with ADRN were divided into four groups: the sham group, the model group (distilled water), the low-dose HQH-treated (2 g/kg) group, and the high-dose HQH-treated (4 g/kg) group. Body weight and 24-h urinary protein (Upro) were checked every week. After 5-week intervention, at the end of the study, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for examination of biochemical parameters, including glomerular morphological makers, podocyte shape, cellular apoptosis, expressions of nephrin, inflammatory and apoptosis markers.

Results

HQH ameliorated the rat’s general status, proteinuria, renal morphological appearance and glomerulosclerosis. The decreased expression of nephrin in ADRN rats was increased by HQH, as well as the impaired podocyte foot process fusion. Cytosolic levels of p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor κBα (IκBα) were decreased in ADRN rats, and recovered by the treatment of HQH. Consistently, the induced expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), phosphorylated nuclear factor κB p65 (p-NFκB p65) and IκBα in ADRN were markedly suppressed by HQH. In addition, induction of Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and cytochrome C in ADRN rats were suppressed by HQH, indicating the amelioration of apoptosis.

Conclusion

HQH could ameliorate renal impairments in ADRN rats by increasing nephrin expression, inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway via the down-regulation of p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα, and suppression of glomerular and tubular apoptosis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Hong Liu & Wei Sun

  2. Graduate School, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China

    Hong Liu, Yue Tu, Bing-yin Yu & Hao Hu

  3. Center for Diabetes Care, Education and Research, Jiangsu Province Institute of Geriatrics, Nanjing, 210024, China

    Liu-bao Gu

Authors
  1. Hong Liu
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  2. Wei Sun
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  3. Liu-bao Gu
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  4. Yue Tu
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  5. Bing-yin Yu
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  6. Hao Hu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Sun.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81373607), the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, and the Science and Technology Funding for Life and Health Care of Jiangsu Province (No. BL2012032)

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Liu, H., Sun, W., Gu, Lb. et al. Huaiqihuang Granules (槐杞黄颗粒) reduce proteinuria by enhancing nephrin expression and regulating necrosis factor κB signaling pathway in adriamycin-induced nephropathy. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 279–287 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2293-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-2293-0

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