title: Cordyceps sinensis protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.
abstract: Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is an entomogenous fungus used as a tonic food and Chinese medicine to replenish health. This study investigated the protective effects of CS in rats post-renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) sequence by analyzing the influence on stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α and chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4) expressions and senescence during recovery. Chemokine SDF-1 [now called chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 12 (CXCL12)] and its receptor CXCR4 are crucial in kidney repair after ischemic acute renal failure. CS treatment significantly alleviated I/R-induced renal damage assessed by creatinine levels (p < 0.05) and abated renal tubular damages assessed by periodic acid-Schiff with diastase (PASD) staining. CS induced early SDF-1α expression and increased CXCR4 expression 1-6 h post-reperfusion. Histology studies have revealed that CS induced SDF-1α in squamous cells of Bowman's capsule, mesangial cells, distal convoluted tubules (DCT), and proximal convoluted tubules (PCT). CS also improved renal repair in I/R-induced injury by increasing Ki-67 staining. I/R induced renal senescence after 3 and 6 h of reperfusion. However, CS alleviated I/R-induced senescence at early stage (1 and 3 h). We conclude that CS protects against I/R injury via the SDF-1/CXCR4-signaling axis and alleviates senescence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hua-Pin
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ching-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hsueh-Wen
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jen-Wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ya-Zhu
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: Li-Ching
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000378:metabolism; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D019718:Receptors, CXCR4; C099856:corbrin; D000241:Adenosine; D003401:Creatine