Multi-glycoside of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. ameliorates prolonged mesangial lesions in experimental progressive glomerulonephritis.
OBJECTIVE
Multi-glycoside from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f. (GTW) is used for treatment of progressive glomerulonephritis (GN) in China. We have previously reported the beneficial effects of GTW on acute GN induced by an anti-Thy-1.1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). In the present study, the effect and potential mechanisms of GTW on the chronic irreversible model of GN were investigated.


METHODS
Progressive GN was induced in rats by two intravenous injections of anti-Thy-1.1 mAb 1-22-3. Daily oral administration of GTW was started before the second injection of mAb until the day of sacrifice. Ten rats were randomly divided into a control (vehicle-treated) and a GTW-treated group, and sacrificed on day 45 after the first injection of mAb 1-22-3. Proteinuria was determined on days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45. Blood biochemical parameters, morphological changes of mesangium, glomerular infiltration of macrophage and T lymphocyte, and glomerular mRNA expression of cytokines (TGF-beta, IL-2, and IFN-gamma) were examined from the samples taken at terminal sacrifice.


RESULTS
GTW treatment significantly ameliorated proteinuria, renal function, prolonged mesangial lesions and inflammatory cell accumulation in glomerulus. In addition, it significantly reduced the glomerular mRNA expression for TGF-beta, IL-2, and IFN-gamma.


CONCLUSIONS
GTW ameliorates prolonged glomerular lesions presumably through suppression of cytokine production (TGF-beta, IL-2, and IFN-gamma). GTW could be an effective therapeutic agent for treatment of chronic renal diseases.
Wan
Yigang
Y
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, PR China.
Sun
Wei
W
Zhang
Huilan
H
Yan
Qiaojing
Q
Chen
Ping
P
Dou
Chenhui
C
Yang
Haiming
H
Ge
Ming
M
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry*
D006027:Glycosides; D010936:Plant Extracts