title: Triptolide attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Extracts of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. have been used to treat glomerulonephritis for more than 30 years in China. Most of the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive activities of these extracts can be attributed to triptolide (Trip). The present study was to investigate the effect of Trip on renal interstitial fibrosis in a model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).
  
  
  METHODS
  UUO or sham-operated rats were randomly assigned to receive mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), Trip or vehicle and were killed on days 7 and 14 after UUO or sham operation. Kidney specimens were fixed for immunohistochemistry for myofibroblasts (α-smooth muscle actin, α-SMA), macrophages (ED-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and osteopontin. Interstitial collagen deposition and amounts of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were determined by Sirius red staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. The mRNA expression of TGF-β1, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), MCP-1 and osteopontin were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores for the density of α-SMA- and ED-1-positive cells, the staining of MCP-1 and osteopontin, interstitial collagen deposition and amounts of TGF-β1 were significantly reduced by MMF or Trip. MMF or Trip significantly reduced the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, CTGF, MCP-1 and osteopontin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trip significantly attenuated tubulointerstitial fibrosis in a rat UUO model and the effect of Trip on renal fibrosis was similar to that of MMF. Trip may be useful as a potential candidate in the treatment of renal fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Organ Transplant Centre, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Peng
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Xiao-Shun
authors.initials: XS
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Chang-Xi
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Long-Shan
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000187:drug effects; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000378:metabolism; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D003094:Collagen; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D053495:Osteopontin; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat; C001899:triptolide