[Effects of Fuzheng Huayu recipe on renal toxic interstitial fibrosis in rats]

Fuzheng Huayu recipe prevents nutritional fibrosing steatohepatitis in mice

Background

Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY), a compound of Chinese herbal medicine, was reported to improve liver function and fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B virus infection. However, its effect on nutritional fibrosing steatohepatitis is unclear. We aimed to elucidate the role and molecular mechanism of FZHY on this disorder in mice.

Methods

C57BL/6 J mice were fed with methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks to induce fibrosing steatohepatitis. FZHY and/or heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) chemical inducer (hemin) were administered to mice, respectively. The effect of FZHY was assessed by comparing the severity of hepatic injury, levels of hepatic lipid peroxides, activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and the expression of oxidative stress, inflammatory and fibrogenic related genes.

Results

Mice fed with MCD diet for 8 weeks showed severe hepatic injury including hepatic steatosis, necro-inflammation and fibrosis. Administration of FZHY or hemin significantly lowered serum levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, reduced hepatic oxidative stress and ameliorated hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. An additive effect was observed in mice fed MCD supplemented with FZHY or/and hemin. These effects were associated with down-regulation of pro-oxidative stress gene cytochrome P450 2E1, up-regulation of anti-oxidative gene HO-1; suppression of pro-inflammation genes tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6; and inhibition of pro-fibrotic genes including α-smooth muscle actin, transforming growth factor beta 1, collagen type I (Col-1) and Col-3.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated the protective role of FZHY in ameliorating nutritional fibrosing steatohepatitis. The effect was mediated through regulating key genes related to oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrogenesis.

Fuzheng Huayu recipe and vitamin E reverse renal interstitial fibrosis through counteracting TGF-beta1-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

AIM

To investigate the mechanism of action of Fuzheng Huayu recipe (FZHY) and vitamin E (Vit E) against renal interstitial fibrosis related to transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) mediated tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Renal interstitial fibrosis was induced by administration of HgCl(2) at a dose of 8 mg/kg body weight once a day for 9 weeks. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal, model, FZHY, and Vit E group. Rats in the latter two groups were treated with the FZHY recipe and Vit E respectively. HK-2 cells were treated with TGF-beta1 for 24h, followed by incubation with either SB-431542 (a potent and specific inhibitor of TbetaR-I kinase) or FZHY drug-containing serum for another 24h. Hyp content in rat kidney tissue was assayed with Jamall's method and collagen deposition in kidney was visualized using Masson stain. Protein expression of TGF-beta1, TbetaR-I, Smad2, p-Smad2, Smad3, and p-Smad3 was analyzed by Western blotting. Protein expression and the location of Smad3 in kidney was assayed by immunohistochemistry, E-cadherin, cytokeratin 18 (CK-18), alpha-SMA and TGF-beta1 by immunofluorescent stain.

RESULTS

FZHY and Vit E inhibited renal collagen deposition and reduced Hyp content significantly. They upregulated E-cadherin protein expression and down-regulated the protein expression of alpha-SMA, TGF-beta1, p-Smad2, p-Smad3, and TbetaR-I. Lastly, they inhibited the nuclear translocation of Smad3 in fibrotic kidney tissue. FZHY drug-containing serum significantly upregulated the expression of CK-18 and down-regulated the expression of alpha-SMA, TbetaR-I, p-Smad2/3 in TGF-beta1 stimulated HK-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

The mechanism of action of FZHY and Vit E against renal interstitial fibrosis is related to the reversal of tubular EMT induced by TGF-beta1.