title: Protective effect of Huang Gan formula in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by depressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
abstract: Huang Gan formula (HGF) is a new traditional Chinese herbal medicine created according to the basic theory of traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of HGF on chronic kidney disease and determine the mechanisms of action. The extract of HGF was prepared, and qualitative and quantitative determination of phytochemical was performed with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer and high-performance liquid chromatography. Sprague-Dawley rats (n=72) were submitted to 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx), and then respectively treated with uremic clearance granule, losartan, HGF low dose, HGF middle dose, and HGF high dose once per day for 12 weeks. The sham group of operated rats (n=22) was treated with normal saline or HGF middle dose as a background control group. Blood and urine biochemical parameters, renal tissue morphology, and mRNA and proteins of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways were investigated. The results showed that the quality of the extraction process could be controlled, and a total of eight major compounds were identified and quantified. HGF could decrease the level of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and urine protein and increase the renal index and creatinine clearance rate in a dose-dependent manner. HGF also remarkably reduced the glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by blocking the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through inhibiting the Wnt1, β-catenin, transcription factor 4, and fibronectin 1 expressions, simultaneously measured through mRNA and protein levels in the remnant kidney. These results suggest that extraction of HGF could improve remnant renal function and possibly ameliorate glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis by depressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liqian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shaolian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shiting
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University Medical School, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Can
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lianbing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Qingdao, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xixiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019808:Losartan
keywords: Huang Gan formula; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; chronic kidney disease; traditional Chinese medicine