title: [Effects of qiwei granule on the protein and mRNA expressions of renal tissue transforming growth factor-beta1 in KK-Ay mice with spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of Qiwei Granule (QWG) on the protein and mRNA expressions of renal tissue transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in KK-Ay mice with spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Spontaneous T2DM KK-Ay mice model was adopted. Forty-five male mice were randomly divided into three groups, i. e., the model group, the Chinese medicine group, and the Western medicine group, 15 in each group. Fifteen male C57BL/6J mice were set up as the normal control group. The mice in the Chinese medicine group and the Western medicine group were administered intragastrically with QWG (at the daily dose of 20 g/kg) and valsartan (at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg), and the treatment lasted for 12 successive weeks. The pathological changes of the kidney were observed using HE staining, PAS, and Masson staining. The protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, were detected using immunohistochemical method and Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The renal pathological changes of mice in the model group showed hypertrophic glomeruli, widened mesenteric matrix, increased mesangial cells, vacuolar renal tubular epithelial cells, tubular ectasia, and foci atrophy. Necrosis was occasionally seen. More protein cast, mesenchymal infiltration of inflammatory cells, and interstitial fibrosis could be seen. The protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1 increased more in the model group than in the normal control group. After treatment by QWG and valsartan, the renal pathological changes were obviously alleviated, and the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1 were obviously lowered (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By inhibiting the protein and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1, QWG could play a role in preventing and curing diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069.
authors.forename: Min-zhou
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan-bin
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ming-fei
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1