Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Context
Nephrolithiasis is a major public health problem worldwide and Fu-Fang-Jin-Qian-Cao granules (FFJQC) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula that is used to treat nephrolithiasis. The main component of nephrolithiasis is calcium oxalate (CaOx) and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) shown to play a crucial role in CaOx-induced kidney injury. However, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of FFJQC on the CaOx-induced renal EMT is unknown.Objective
This study explores the therapeutic benefits and mechanism of FFJQC in oxalate-induced kidney injury.Materials and methods
60 male C57BL/6 mice were used in this experiment and divided into 6 groups. A mouse kidney stone model was created by intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylate at a dose of 100 mg/kg for 6 days. The standardized FFJQC was used to treat mouse crystal kidney injury by gavage at 1.35 and 2.7 g/kg, respectively. Western blotting and immunostaining for E-cadherin, cytokeratin 18 (CK18), vimentin, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β)/Smad pathway were conducted on renal tissues.Results
Following CaOx-induced kidney injury, the levels of E-cadherin and CK18 in kidney decreased, while vimentin and α-SMA levels increased. The FFJQC treatment increased the levels of E-cadherin and CK18 and decreased vimentin and α-SMA levels in varying degrees. What's more, the FFJQC reduced the expression of CaOx-induced fibrosis marker collagen II.Conclusion
FFJQC alleviated the CaOx-induced renal EMT and fibrosis by regulating TGF-β/smad pathway. Therefore, the FFJQC is an important traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of CaOx-induced renal injury and fibrosis.
SUBMITTER: Liu WR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7671650 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Liu Wen-Rui WR Lu Hong-Tao HT Zhao Ting-Ting TT Ding Jia-Rong JR Si Ya-Chen YC Chen Wei W Hou Jie-Bin JB Gao Song-Yan SY Dong Xin X Yu Bing B Guo Zhi-Yong ZY Lu Jian-Rao JR
Pharmaceutical biology 20201201 1
<h4>Context</h4>Nephrolithiasis is a major public health problem worldwide and Fu-Fang-Jin-Qian-Cao granules (FFJQC) is a traditional Chinese herbal formula that is used to treat nephrolithiasis. The main component of nephrolithiasis is calcium oxalate (CaOx) and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) shown to play a crucial role in CaOx-induced kidney injury. However, the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of FFJQC on the CaOx-induced renal EMT is unknown.<h4>Objective</h4>This st ...[more]