[Effect of Kangxianling Decoction on expression of hepatocyte growth factor mRNA and phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 and p38 in renal tissue of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of Kangxianling Decoction (KXLD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) mRNA and phosphorylations of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) and p38 in renal tissue of rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).


METHODS
Eighteen male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operated group, untreated group and KXLD-treated group. A rat model of renal interstitial fibrosis was established by UUO. Rats with UUO were sacrificed after intragastric administration of KXLD for 14 days, and the parameters such as serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and hydroxyproline in the kidney of rats in 3 groups were analyzed. The expression of HGF mRNA in kidney tissue was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The expressions of c-Met protein, ERK1/2 protein, p38 protein and the phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and p38 were determined by Western blotting method.


RESULTS
The levels of SCr, BUN and hydroxyproline in the untreated group were significantly increased as compared with those in the sham-operated group (P<0.05). The expression of HGF mRNA in the untreated group was significantly down-regulated. The expression of c-Met protein and the phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and p38 in the kidney tissue of rats with UUO in the untreated group were significantly up-regulated. After intervention with KXLD, the phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and p38 were all significantly inhibited except for c-Met expression. The HGF mRNA was increased in KXLD-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
KXLD can decrease the level of collagen in the obstructed kidney of rats with UUO and alleviate the renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with UUO through enhancing the HGF mRNA expression and inhibiting the phosphorylations of ERK1/2 and p38.
Zhang
Yue
Y
Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China. yuezhang_shanghai@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Yu-min
YM
Lu
Hai-ying
HY
Liu
Ke-jian
KJ
Li
Jing
J
He
Li-qun
LQ
Lin
Min
M
Zhou
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D009400:Nephrosclerosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010766:Phosphorylation; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000150:complications*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C533464:kangxianling; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases