Astragaloside effect on TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, and α-SMA expression in the kidney tissues of diabetic KKAy mice.
Numerous cytokines participate in the occurrence and development of inflammation and renal interstitial fibrosis. Previous studies confirmed that TGF-β1 overexpressed in diabetic nephropathy. As a downstream signal protein of TGF-β1 family, SMAD has an important role in the process of α-SMA mediated renal interstitial fibrosis. This study aimed to study astragaloside effect on TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, and α-SMA expression in the kidney tissue of diabetic KKAy mice, to reveal its potential impact on renal interstitial fibrosis. 20 type II diabetic KKAy mice were randomly equally divided into model group and astragaloside group, while 10 male C57BL/6J mice were selected as the control. Astragaloside at 40 mg/(kg•d) was given when the KKAy mice fed with high-fat diet to 14 weeks old. The mice were killed at 24 weeks old and the kidney tissue samples were collected. Pathology morphological changes were observed. TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, and α-SMA expression levels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Compared with control, mice kidney in model group appeared obvious fibrosis and up-regulated blood glucose level, TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, and α-SMA expression (P < 0.05). Mice in astragaloside group exhibited alleviated renal interstitial fibrosis compared with the model. Its blood glucose level, TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, and α-SMA expression levels were significantly lower than the model group (P < 0.05). Astragaloside can delay the renal fibrosis process in diabetic mice by influencing the TGF-β/SMADS signaling pathway and down-regulating TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, and α-SMA expression.
Department of Nephrology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250012, Shandong, China ; Department of Nephrology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Yaning
Y
Wang
Department of Joint Surgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Chao
C
Lin
Department of Joint Surgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Qiang
Q
Ren
Department of Nephrology, Binzhou Medical University Hospital Binzhou 256603, Shandong, China.
Yunqi
Y
Liu
Department of Nephrology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
Xiangdong
X
Yang
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D000199:Actins; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497783:Smad2 protein, mouse; D051900:Smad3 Protein; C497791:Smad3 protein, mouse; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C544013:alpha-smooth muscle actin, mouse
Astragaloside; TGF-β1; diabetic mellitus; α-SMA