title: HuangQi Decoction Improves Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis in Mice by Inhibiting the Up-Regulation of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effects of HuangQi decoction on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in mice and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was used. A total of 120 C57/BL mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, sham group, sham+HuangQi decoction group (1.08 g/kg), UUO group, UUO+HuangQi decoction group (0.12, 0.36, 1.08 g/kg). Immunohistochemical analysis, RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to examine the proteins and genes related to the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In UUO mice models, expression levels of Wnt3,4, Frizzled4, LRP5,6, β-catenin, LEF-1, TCF-1, Snail, MMP2,7 genes were positively correlated with the degree of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis, while expression levels of GSK-3β, Axin, APC, CK1 were negatively correlated. HuangQi decoction could down-regulate expression levels of Wnt3,4, Frizzled4, LRP5,6, β-catenin, LEF-1, TCF-1, Snail, Twist, MMP2,7 and up-regulate expression levels of GSK-3β, Axin, APC, CK1 and E-cadherin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HuangQi decoction could effectively inhibit the up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway induced by UUO, implying a possible role in improving renal interstitial fibrosis.
authors.forename: Ming-Qian
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ai-li
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yun-man
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005355:Fibrosis; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C439205:Huangqin-Tang