title: Wen-pi-tang-Hab-Wu-ling-san, an oriental herbal prescription, attenuates epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation stimulated by TGF-beta1 in kidney cells.
abstract: Wen-pi-tang-Hab-Wu-ling-san (WHW), an oriental herbal prescription, is currently used in oriental clinics for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF). While its effectiveness has been supported by a series of modern studies, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. CRF progression involves tubulointerstitial fibrosis where transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) plays a critical role by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT). This study examined whether WHW extract attenuated the TGF-beta1-induced EMT in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells. When the cells were stimulated by TGF-beta1 (2.5 ng/mL), they exhibited an elongated, spindle-shaped appearance but this morphological change was significantly suppressed by WHW extract (1 mg/mL). The WHW extract did not show notable cytotoxicity and even mitigated the cytotoxic effects of TGF-beta1. It inhibited the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), a marker of EMT, but not the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases stimulated by TGF-beta1. The WHW extract also inhibited the phosphorylation of Smad2 that mediates TGF-beta1 signaling leading to alpha-SMA expression. The present study suggests that WHW extract may provide renal protective effects through modulation of the TGF-beta1/Smad2/alpha-SMA pathway involved in fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, 101 Dongin-dong 2-ga, Junggu, Daegu, 700-422, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyo Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Moon-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Kwon Moo
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yongki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Cheol Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Yong Chool
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Boo
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1