Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Effect of Bushen Qudu Decoction on TGF-?1/Smads signal transduction pathway in rats with chronic renal failure

Weirong Shi¹ , Qiang Wu¹, Qiuhong Wu², Juan Tang¹

¹Department of Nephrology, The Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, PR China; ²Department of Health Management Center, The Second People's Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, PR China.

For correspondence:- Weirong Shi Email: fujianshitou@163.com

Accepted: 25 February 2022 Published: 31 March 2022

Citation: Shi W, Wu Q, Wu Q, Tang J. Effect of Bushen Qudu Decoction on TGF-?1/Smads signal transduction pathway in rats with chronic renal failure. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(3):555-561 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i3.15

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To study the impact of Bushen Qudu Decoction on renal function, renal tissue morphology and TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction pathway in adenine-induced chronic renal failure rats.

Methods: 76 rats were assigned to normal group, model group, uremic clearance group, benazepil group, Bushen Qudu decoction gunshan A group and Bushen Qudu decoction Guiza group. Renal failure was induced in rats using intragastric administration of adenine for 30 days. The expressions of TGF-β1, Smad2, Smad3 and Smad6 were determined with immunohistochemistry. Real-time quantitative PCR was employed to assay the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 in each group, while protein expressions of Smad2, Smad3 and Smad6 were determined with western blot. The scores of glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions in each group were obtained by histopathological examination.

Results: Bushen Qudu decoction significantly reduced BUN and creatinine in rats with chronic renal failure; furthermore, it also lowered the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and SMAD2/3, but Smad6 protein, relative to control (p < 0.05). The TGF-β1mRNA expression was down-regulated (p < 0.05), relative to control group.

Conclusion: Bushen Qudu decoction reduces renal interstitial fibrosis in rats and delays the progression of chronic renal failure by regulating TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. These findings provide some insight that should facilitate the development of new drugs that would delay the onset of chronic renal failure.

Keywords: Chronic renal failure, renal interstitial fibrosis, TGF-?1/Smads signal transduction pathway, Bushen Qudu decoction