Silymarin and MSC-exosomes ameliorate thioacetamide-evoked renal fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-β/SMAD pathway in rats.

ABSTRACT:

Background

TGF-β1 and SMAD3 are particularly pathogenic in the progression of renal fibrosis.

Aim

This study aimed to evaluate the kidney protective potentials of silymarin (SM) and exosomes of mesenchymal stem cells against the nephrotoxin thioacetamide (TAA) in rats.

Methods

32 female rats were randomly assigned into four groups: the control group, the TAA group, the TAA + SM group, and the TAA + Exosomes group. The kidney homogenates from all groups were examined for expression levels of TGF-β receptors I and II using real-time PCR, expression levels of collagen type I and CTGF proteins using ELISA, and the expression levels of nuclear SMAD2/3/4, cytoplasmic SMAD2/3, and cytoplasmic SMAD4 proteins using the western blot technique.

Results

Compared to the con

SUBMITTER: Mekawy DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11026270 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature