Antifibrotic effect of the Chinese herbs, Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, in a rat model of chronic puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.
Nephrotic syndrome has long been treated in China with two herbs, Astragalus mongholicus and Angelica sinensis, which may have antifibrotic effects.


METHODS
Rats with chronic puromycin-induced nephrosis were treated with Astragalus and Angelica 3 mL/d (n = 7) or enalapril 10 mg/kg/d (n = 7). Normal control rats (n = 7) received saline rather than puromycin, and an untreated control group (n = 7) received puromycin but no treatment. After 12 weeks, stained sections of the glomerulus and tubulointerstitium were evaluated for injury. Immunohistochemistry staining measured extracellular matrix components, transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), osteopontin, ED-1-positive cells, and alpha-actin. TGFbeta1 mRNA was assessed by in situ hybridization. Renin, ACE activity, angiotensin, and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay or colorimetry. In the untreated rats, chronic renal injury progressed to marked fibrosis at 12 weeks. Astragalus and Angelica significantly reduced deterioration of renal function and histologic damage. Expressions of type III and IV collagen, fibronectin, and laminin also decreased significantly. This anti-fibrotic effect was similar to that of enalapril. The herbs had no effect on the renin-angiotensin system but did reduce the number of ED-1-positive, and alpha-actin positive cells and expression of osteopontin compared to untreated controls. The combination of Astragalus and Angelica retarded the progression of renal fibrosis and deterioration of renal function with comparable effects of enalapril. These effects were not caused by blocking the intrarenal renin-angiotensin system, but associated with suppression of the overexpression of TGFbeta1 and osteopontin, reduction of infiltrating macrophages, and less activation of renal intrinsic cells [corrected].
Wang
Haiyan
H
Division of Nephrology, The 1st Hospital and Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing 100034, People's Republic of China. jingzi@bjmu.edu.cn [corrected]
Li
Jingzi
J
Yu
Ling
L
Zhao
Yani
Y
Ding
Wei
W
D029971:Angelica sinensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000633:toxicity*; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009401:Nephrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011507:Proteinuria; D011692:Puromycin Aminonucleoside / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012044:Regression Analysis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D011692:Puromycin Aminonucleoside; D004656:Enalapril