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Fuzheng Huayu Formula (扶正化瘀方) prevents rat renal interstitial fibrosis induced by HgCl2 via antioxidative stress and down-regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B activity

Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine volume 23, pages 598–604 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the mechanism of action of Fuzheng Huayu Formula (扶正化瘀方, FZHY) against renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) relating to oxidative injury and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activity.

Methods

Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal group, model group and FZHY treatment group. The RIF model was induced by oral administration of HgCl2 at a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight once a day for 9 weeks. Meanwhile, rats in FZHY treatment group orally took FZHY at a dose of 4.0 g/kg rat weight for 9 weeks. The content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) and collagen deposition in kidney were observed. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), the content of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of kidney were tested. The expressions of inhibitor-κappa B (IκB), phospho-IκB (p-IκB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were analyzed by Western blot. α-SMA expression was also observed by immunofluorescent staining. MMP-2 activity was measured by gelatin zymography. NF-κB activation was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

Results

Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by HgCl2, demonstrated by remarkably increased Hyp contents and excessive collagen deposition in kidney (P<0.01). FZHY significantly inhibited renal interstitial collagen deposition and reduced Hyp content of the HgCl2-treated rats (P<0.01). GSH content decreased obviously, and MDA content increased signifificantly in HgCl2-treated rats compared with that of normal rats (P<0.01). FZHY significantly increased GSH content and decreased MDA content in the model rats (P<0.01). The expression α-SMA was increased in model rats compared with that of normal rats, FZHY signifificantly decreased its expression (P<0.01). The expressions of p-IκB and TNF-α and MMP-2, MMP-2 activity, and NF-κB activation were increased in model group compared with that in normal group (P<0.01), FZHY signifificantly decreased NF-κB activation, MMP-2 activity and p-IκB and TNF-α expressions (P<0.01).

Conclusions

FZHY could protect kidney from oxidative injury intoxicated by HgCl2, and antagonized oxidative stress-stimulated NF-κB activity through inhibition of IκB phosphorylation in the interstitial fibrotic kidney, these effects importantly contributed to FZHY action mechanism against renal interstitial fifibrosis.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Institute of Liver Diseases, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Ji-li Yuan, Yan-yan Tao, Qing-lan Wang, Li Shen & Cheng-hai Liu

  2. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Traditional, Chinese Clinical Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Cheng-hai Liu

  3. E-Institute of TCM Internal Medicine, Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, Shanghai, 201203, China

    Cheng-hai Liu

Authors
  1. Ji-li Yuan
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  2. Yan-yan Tao
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  3. Qing-lan Wang
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  4. Li Shen
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  5. Cheng-hai Liu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cheng-hai Liu.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81270053); the National Science and Technology Major Project (No. 2014ZX10005001) and the International S&T Cooperation Program of China (No. 2014DFA31440); "Three-Year Action Plan" for Development of TCM in Shanghai (No. ZY3-CCCX-2-1003).

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Yuan, Jl., Tao, Yy., Wang, Ql. et al. Fuzheng Huayu Formula (扶正化瘀方) prevents rat renal interstitial fibrosis induced by HgCl2 via antioxidative stress and down-regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B activity. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 598–604 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2540-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2540-z

Keywords

  • Fuzheng Huayu Formula
  • renal interstitial fifibrosis
  • mercuric chloride
  • oxidative stress
  • nuclear factor-kappa B
  • matrix metalloproteinase-2
  • tumor necrosis factor-α
  • Chinese medicine