Anti-renal fibrosis effect of asperulosidic acid via TGF-β1/smad2/smad3 and NF-κB signaling pathways in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction

Phytomedicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 274-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Xianyuan ◽  
Zou Wei ◽  
Dong Yaqian ◽  
Zhou Dan ◽  
Tong Xueli ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Dapeng Zhao ◽  
Zhongqiu Luan

Renal fibrosis is a common final pathological process in the progression of kidney disease. Oleanolic acid is a bioactive pentacyclic triterpenoid and is widely found in medicinal herbs around the world. In this study, we explored the effect of oleanolic acid on renal fibrosis and the underlying molecular mechanisms by using a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with oleanolic acid (6 mg/kg/d) or vehicle (olive oil) for 21 days after the UUO surgery. Upon termination, urine and blood were collected for renal function analysis, and kidneys were harvested for pathological analysis by using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson trichrome staining. Changes of extracellular matrix mRNA expressions and TGF-β/Smad signaling in the kidneys were also determined. As a result, oleanolic acid significantly reduced the kidney index, the level of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, and the urinary level of microalbumin, α1-microglobulin, and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase. Masson trichrome staining showed significantly less collagen deposition in the UUO rats with oleanolic acid treatment. Diminished mRNA expressions of collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, and α-SMA in the kidney tissues were observed after the treatment. Oleanolic acid led to decreased protein expressions of TGF-β, TGF-β receptor I, and TGF-β receptor II, as well as the phosphorylation of Smad2. Our current study suggested that oleanolic acid could be a complementary and alternative therapy for renal fibrosis potentially by targeting the TGF-β/Smad pathway.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 1597-1608
Author(s):  
Ji-zhe Jin ◽  
Hui-ying Li ◽  
Jian Jin ◽  
Shang-guo Piao ◽  
Xiong-hu Shen ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Quan ◽  
Woong Park ◽  
Jixiu Jin ◽  
Won Kim ◽  
Sung Kwang Park ◽  
...  

Renal fibrosis is a common feature of all progressive chronic kidney diseases. Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3) is one of the mitochondrial sirtuins, and plays a role in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative stress, fatty acid metabolism, and aging. Recently, honokiol (HKL), as a pharmaceutical SIRT3 activator, has been observed to have a protective effect against pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by increasing SIRT3 activity. In this study, we investigated whether HKL, as a SIRT3 activator, also has protective effects against unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis through SIRT3-dependent regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad signaling pathway. We found that HKL decreased the UUO-induced increase in tubular injury and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in mice. HKL also decreased myofibroblast activation and proliferation in UUO kidneys and NRK-49F cells. Finally, we showed that HKL treatment decreased UUO-induced mitochondrial fission and promoted mitochondrial fusion through SIRT3-dependent effects. In conclusion, activation of SIRT3 via HKL treatment might have beneficial effects on UUO-induced renal fibrosis through SIRT3-dependent regulation of mitochondrial dynamics and the NF-κB/TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.


2017 ◽  
Vol 312 (1) ◽  
pp. F121-F133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Renfei Luo ◽  
Yutaka Kakizoe ◽  
Feifei Wang ◽  
Xiang Fan ◽  
Shan Hu ◽  
...  

Microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1), an inducible enzyme that converts prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), plays an important role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. We investigated the contribution of mPGES-1 to renal fibrosis and inflammation in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) for 7 days using wild-type (WT) and mPGES-1 knockout (KO) mice. UUO induced increased mRNA and protein expression of mPGES-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 in WT mice. UUO was associated with increased renal PGE2 content and upregulated PGE2 receptor (EP) 4 expression in obstructed kidneys of both WT and mPGES-1 KO mice; EP4 expression levels were higher in KO mice with UUO than those in WT mice. Protein expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components ASC and interleukin-1β was significantly increased in obstructed kidneys of KO mice compared with that in WT mice. mRNA expression levels of fibronectin, collagen III, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were significantly higher in obstructed kidneys of KO mice than that in WT mice. In KO mice, protein expression of fibronectin and collagen III was markedly increased in obstructed kidneys compared with WT mice, which was associated with increased phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT). EP4 agonist CAY10598 attenuated increased expression of collagen I and fibronectin induced by TGF-β1 in inner medullary collecting duct 3 cells. Moreover, CAY10598 prevented the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes induced by angiotensin II in human proximal tubule cells (HK2). In conclusion, these findings suggested that mPGES-1 exerts a potentially protective effect against renal fibrosis and inflammation induced by UUO in mice.


2011 ◽  
Vol 301 (2) ◽  
pp. F450-F459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinu Kim ◽  
Babu J. Padanilam

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) contributes to necrotic cell death and inflammation in several disease models; however, the role of PARP1 in fibrogenesis remains to be defined. Here, we tested whether PARP1 was involved in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis using the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) mouse model. UUO was performed by ligation of the left ureter near the renal pelvis in Parp1-knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) male mice. After 10 days of UUO, renal PARP1 expression and activation were strongly increased by 6- and 13-fold, respectively. Interstitial fibrosis induced by UUO was significantly attenuated in Parp1-KO kidneys compared with that in WT kidneys at 10 days, but not at 3 days, based on collagen deposition, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and fibronectin expression. Intriguingly, the UUO kidneys in Parp1-KO mice showed a dramatic decrease in infiltration of neutrophil and reduction in expression of proinflammatory proteins including intercellular adhesion molecule-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and toll-like receptor 4 as well as phosphorylation of nuclear factor-κB p65, but not transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) at both 3 and 10 days. Pharmacological inhibition of PARP1 in rat renal interstitial fibroblast (NRK-49F) cell line or genetic ablation in primary mouse embryonic fibroblast cells did not affect TGF-β1-induced de novo α-SMA expression. Parp1 deficiency significantly attenuated UUO-induced histological damage in the kidney tubular cells, but not apoptosis. These data suggest that PARP1 induces necrotic cell death and contributes to inflammatory signaling pathways that trigger fibrogenesis in obstructive nephropathy.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chun-feng Liu ◽  
Hing Liu ◽  
Yi Fang ◽  
Su-hua Jiang ◽  
Jia-ming Zhu ◽  
...  

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore effects of rapamycin on renal hypoxia, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and the expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Flk-1 and Flt-1 in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n=36) were randomly divided into three groups (n=12 per group): sham surgery, UUO and UUO plus rapamycin (0.2 mg/kg/d). Serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol and 24-h urine protein levels were measured. The extent of interstitial fibrosis was determined by Masson's trichrome staining. ED-1 positive macrophages, type III collagen, hypoxia, TGF-1, VEGF, Flk-1, and Flt-1 mRNA and protein expressions were detected using immunohistochemical staining, real-time PCR and Western blot. Results: UUO induced an elevation in Scr, renal hypoxia, inflammation, interstitial fibrosis, TGF-β1, VEGF, Flk-1, and Flt-1 mRNA and protein expression levels (P < 0.05). Rapamycin alleviated the UUO-induced renal hypoxia, infiltration of inflammatory cells and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (at days 3 and 7). Rapamycin also down-regulated the UUO-induced elevated expression levels of TGF-β1 and Flt-1 mRNA and protein (P < 0.05). Rapamycin decreased VEGF mRNA and protein expression at day 3, and increased Flk-1 mRNA and protein expression at day 7, compared with the UUO group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Rapamycin shows beneficial effects by reducing UUO-induced renal hypoxia, inflammation and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.


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