title: ShenKang injection suppresses kidney fibrosis and oxidative stress via transforming growth factor-β/Smad3 signalling pathway in vivo and in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to investigate the antifibrosis and antioxidation of ShenKang injection (SKI) in vivo and in vitro and to evaluate potential mechanisms involved in the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  
  
  METHODS
  In experimental animal studies, CKD was established by 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx). Serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined. Histopathological tests were performed by H&E and Masson trichrome stained. The protein expressions of fibronectin (FN), collagen Ι, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and phosphorylation of Smad3 were measured in 5/6Nx rats. In Human kidney proximal tubular cell line (HK-2) cells, the effects of TGF-β/Smad3 signalling pathway on renal fibrosis and oxidative injury were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5/6Nx induced severe renal damages. Treatment of rats with SKI markedly reduced levels of Scr and BUN, alleviated expression of fibrosis-associated signalling molecules and reduced expression of TGF-β and phosphorylated Smad3. Meanwhile, in HK-2 cells, after exposure to TGF-β and H2 O2 , the protein expression of renal fibrosis was significantly increased. The generation of oxidative stress was also elevated. The severity of fibrosis and oxidative damage appears to be reduced after treatment with SKI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SKI inhibits renal fibrosis and oxidative stress through downregulation of TGF-β/Smad3 signalling pathway.
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Xiaoxiao
authors: X
authors: Wu
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Yue
authors: Y
authors: Guan
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Jiajia
authors: J
authors: Yan
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Meiyou
authors: M
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Yin
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Jialin
authors: J
authors: Duan
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Guo
authors: G
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Tianxin
authors: T
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Weng
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Miaomiao
authors: M
authors: Xi
authors: Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
authors: Aidong
authors: A
authors: Wen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002460:Cell Line; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004656:Enalapril / Q000494:pharmacology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C550195:shenkang; D004656:Enalapril; D003404:Creatinine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases
keywords: ShenKang injection; chronic renal disease; oxidative stress; renal fibrosis