Huangkui capsule alleviates doxorubicin-induced proteinuria via protecting against podocyte damage and inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling

A single-cell profile reveals the transcriptional regulation responded for Abelmoschus manihot (L.) treatment in diabetic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Huangkui capsule (HKC), as an ethanol extract of Abelmoschus manihot (L.), has a significant efficacy in treatment of the patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The bioactive ingredients of HKC mainly include the flavonoids such as rutin, hyperoside, hibifolin, isoquercetin, myricetin, quercetin and quercetin-3-O-robinobioside.

PURPOSE

To explore the molecular mechanisms of A. manihot in treatment of DKD.

STUDY DESIGN

A single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of kidneys in db/db mice with and without HKC administration.

METHODS

Urinary biochemical and histopathological examination in C57BL/6 and db/db mice of DKD and HKC groups was done. Single-cell RNA sequencing pipeline was then performed. The regulatory mechanisms of seven flavonoids in HKC were revealed by cell communication, prediction of transcription factor regulatory network, and molecular docking.

RESULTS

By constructing ligand-receptor regulatory network and performing molecular docking between 75 receptors with different activities and seven flavonoids. 11 key receptors in 4 cell types (segment 3 proximal convoluted tubular cell, ascending limbs of the loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubule, and T cell) in kidneys were found to be directly interacted with HKC. The interactions regulated 8 downstream regulons. The docking receptors in T cell led to transcriptional event differences in the regulons such as Cebpb, Rel, Tbx21 and Klf2 and consequently affected the activation, differentiation, and infiltration of T cell, while the receptors Tgfbr1 and Ldlr in stromal cells of kidneys were closely associated with the downstream transcriptional events of renal injury and proteinuria in DKD.

CONCLUSION

The current study provides novel information of the key receptors and regulons in renal cells for a better understanding of the cell type specific molecular mechanisms of A. manihot in treatment of DKD.

Activation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway contributes to the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy and is a target for Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction (MFSD) to repair podocyte damage

BACKGROUND

Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is an autoimmune glomerular disease. IL-6 is a potential therapeutic target for PMN. Previous clinical studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Mahuang Fuzi and Shenzhuo Decoction (MFSD) in treating membranous nephropathy. However, the mechanism of action of MFSD remains unclear.

METHODS

Serum IL-6 levels were measured in patients with PMN and healthy subjects. The passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) rat model was established, and high and low doses of MFSD were used for intervention to observe the repair effect of MFSD on renal pathological changes and podocyte injury. RNA-seq was used to screen the possible targets of MFSD, and the effect of MFSD targeting IL-6/STAT3 was further verified by combining the experimental results. Finally, the efficacy of tocilizumab in PHN rats was observed.

RESULTS

Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in PMN patients than in healthy subjects. These levels significantly decreased in patients in remission after MFSD treatment. MFSD treatment improved laboratory indicators in PHN rats, as well as glomerular filtration barrier damage and podocyte marker protein expression. Renal transcriptome changes showed that MFSD-targeted differential genes were enriched in JAK/STAT and cytokine-related pathways. MFSD inhibits the IL6/STAT3 pathway in podocytes. Additionally, MFSD significantly reduced serum levels of IL-6 and other cytokines in PHN rats. However, treatment of PHN with tocilizumab did not achieve the expected effect.

CONCLUSION

The IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway is activated in podocytes of experimental membranous nephropathy. MFSD alleviates podocyte damage by inhibiting the IL-6/STAT3 pathway.

Use of bailing capsules (cordyceps sinensis) in the treatment of chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis and network pharmacology

The Bailing Capsule is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, its therapeutic effects and pharmacological mechanisms have not been fully explored. In this study, we integrated meta-analysis and network pharmacology to provide scientific evidence for the efficacy and pharmacological mechanism of Bailing Capsule in treating CKD. We conducted searches for randomized controlled studies matching the topic in PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and the Wanfang Database, and screened them according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Dates from the included studies were extracted for meta-analysis, including renal function indicators, such as 24-h urinary protein (24UP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (Scr), as well as inflammatory indicators like high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Network pharmacology was employed to extract biological information, including active drug ingredients and potential targets of the drugs and diseases, for network construction and gene enrichment. Our findings indicated that 24UP, BUN, and Scr in the treatment group containing Bailing Capsule were lower than those in the control group. In terms of inflammatory indicators, hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α, the treatment group containing Bailing Capsule also exhibited lower levels than the control group. Based on network pharmacology analysis, we identified 190 common targets of Bailing Capsule and CKD. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses suggested that the pharmacological mechanism of Bailing Capsule might be related to immune response, inflammatory response, vascular endothelial damage, cell proliferation, and fibrosis. This demonstrates that Bailing Capsule can exert therapeutic effects through multiple targets and pathways, providing a theoretical basis for its use.

The pharmacological mechanism of Abelmoschus manihot in the treatment of chronic kidney disease

Abelmoschus manihot (A.manihot) is a herbaceous flowering medicinal plant and flavonoids are its main pharmacological active ingredients. A.manihot is listed in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). A.manihot significantly reduces proteinuria in CKD, and the effectiveness and safety of A.manihot in the treatment including primary glomerulonephropathy and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) have been proved by several randomized controlled trials (RCT). Emerging pharmacological studies have explored the potential active small molecules and the underlying mechanisms in A.manihot. The active constituents of A.manihot are mainly seven flavonoids, including hibifolin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, rutin, quercetin, myricetin, and quercetin-3-O-robinobioside. The mechanisms of action mainly include alleviating renal fibrosis, reducing the inflammatory response and decreasing the apoptosis of podocytes. In this review, we summarize the updated information of active components and molecular mechanisms of A.manihot on chronic kidney disease.

Ameliorative effects of glycine on cobalt chloride-induced hepato-renal toxicity in rats

BACKGROUND

The important roles of liver and kidney in the elimination of injurious chemicals make them highly susceptible to the noxious activities of various toxicants including cobalt chloride (CoCl₂ ). This study was designed to investigate the role of glycine in the mitigation of hepato-renal toxicities associated with CoCl₂ exposure.

METHODS

Forty-two (42) male rats were grouped as Control; (CoCl₂ ; 300 ppm); CoCl₂  + Glycine (50 mg/kg); CoCl₂  + Glycine (100 mg/kg); Glycine (50 mg/kg); and Glycine (100 mg/kg). The markers of hepatic and renal damage, oxidative stress, the antioxidant defense system, histopathology, and immunohistochemical localization of neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and renal podocin were evaluated.

RESULTS

Glycine significantly reduced the markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde content and H₂ O₂ generation), liver function tests (ALT, AST, and ALP), markers of renal function (creatinine and BUN), and decreased the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and podocin compared with rats exposed to CoCl₂ toxicity without glycine treatment. Histopathology lesions including patchy tubular epithelial necrosis, tubular epithelial degeneration and periglomerular inflammation in renal tissues, and severe portal hepatocellular necrosis, inflammation, and duct hyperplasia were observed in hepatic tissues of rats exposed to CoCl₂ toxicity, but were mild to absent in glycine-treated rats.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study clearly demonstrate protective effects of glycine against CoCl₂ -induced tissue injuries and derangement of physiological activities of the hepatic and renal systems in rats. The protective effects are mediated via augmentation of total antioxidant capacity and upregulation of NGAL and podocin expression.