Huang Qi Huai (HQH) granules, a mixture of Chinese herbs, contains trametes robiniophila murr, wolfberry fruit, and Polygonatum. We investigated the mechanism of the protective effects of HQH on
adriamycin nephrosis (ADR) in rats.
Adriamycin nephrotic rats were induced by a single dose of 5 mg/kg
adriamycin. For the HQH-treated
adriamycin nephrosis group, 1 day
after treatment with 5 mg/kg
adriamycin, the rats were administered once-daily oral gavage of 2 mg/kg HQH for 15 days. All the rats were killed at day 15. Histological changes were observed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscope.
Nephrin and
podocin expression levels were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot.
Proteinuria was measured by the Bradford
protein assay. Serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels were evaluated by ELISA. Macrophage infiltration was detected by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting, respectively. ADR rats showed heavy
proteinuria, podocyte and tubulointerstitial injury, macrophage infiltration, and increased levels of serum
cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. HQH significantly ameliorated the
adriamycin-induced renal injury. These data were validated in the cultured podocytes. The podocytes were treated by
adriamycin in the presence or absence of HQH and
nephrin and
podocin expression and TNF-α and IL-1β synthesis and secretion were determined by real-time RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and ELISA, respectively.
Adriamycin significantly reduced
nephrin and
podocin expression, which was significantly restored by the treatment of HQH. HQH treatment inhibited
adriamycin-induced TNF-α and IL-1β expression. Our findings suggest that HQH significantly reduces
proteinuria, prevents podocyte injury, and ameliorates tubulointerstitial damage. Inhibition of inflammatory
cytokine expression and macrophage infiltration may be the protective mechanism of HQH.