title: Inhibition of TGF-β1/Smad signal pathway is involved in the effect of Cordyceps sinensis against renal fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomy rats.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of Cordyceps sinensis on renal fibrosis and its possible mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation (SHAM) group, 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (SNx) untreated group, and 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy treated with C. sinensis (2.0 g/kg d) (CS) group. Rats were studied 12 weeks after the surgery, and the CS group presented with significantly lower proteinuria, and better renal function compared with the SNx group (p<0.05). Pathological study showed that the glomerulosclerosis tubulointerstitial injury score was significantly reduced in the CS group compared with the SNx group. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of TGF-β1, Smad2 and Smad3 and the protein expression of TGF-β1, TβRI, TβRII and p-Smad2/3 were attenuated by the C. sinensis treatment. In constrast, the mRNA and protein expression of Smad7 was upregulated. Furthermore, the expression of α-SMA and FSP1 was also significantly attenuated, accompanied by the increasing expression of E-cadherin, suggesting the inhibition of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C. sinensis exerted its antifibrotic effect on the SNx rats through the inhibition of the TGF-β1/Smad pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
authors.forename: Ming-Ming
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ming-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Jun-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Aled Owain
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Bi-Cheng
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D017931:DNA Primers; D005355:Fibrosis; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051785:Smad Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051785:Smad Proteins; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
keywords: Cordyceps sinensis; Renal fibrosis; TGF-β1