Several studies have shown that
hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorates renal interstitial
fibrosis, but the mechanism is not fully clear. This study was designed to examine whether HGF can relieve renal interstitial injury in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, and to confirm whether this function was associated with decrease in alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and
transforming growth factor-betal (TGF-beta1) expression. The animals were randomized into 8 groups comprising 6 animals (n = 6) each: control (group I), PCI-neo (group II, 900 microg),
sham-operation (group III, not
nephrectomy), model or 5/6
nephrectomy group (group IV),
lotensin group (an
angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, group V, 0.6 mg/100 g/day for 5 weeks), low-dose PCI-neo-HGF group (group VI, 690 microg), high-dose PCI-neo-HGF group (group VII, 1380 microg) and
lotensin + high-dose PCI-neo-HGF group (group VIII, 0.6 mg/100 g/day for 5 weeks, 1380 microg). The animals were sacrificed in the 5th week after 5/6
nephrectomy. The specimens of kidneys were used for pathological examination (
hematoxylin-
eosin staining), detection of alpha-SMA and
TGF-beta1 mRNA (
Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction) and
protein (Western blot and immunohistochemistry) expression. The results showed that in 5/6 nephrectomized rats blood
urea nitrogen (BUN), serum
creatinine (CRE) and 24 h urinary
albumin excretion (UAE) were increased, renal interstitium was injured seriously and alpha-SMA,
TGF-beta1 mRNA and
protein expression were elevated compared with those of control. The above changes were ameliorated and alpha-SMA and
TGF-beta 1 expression was reduced by both PCI-neo-HGF and
lotensin. The
lotensin + high-dose PCI-neo-HGF group rats exhibited the most significant
therapeutic effect both in decreasing the BUN, CRE and 24 h UAE and in relieving renal interstitial injury. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that HGF can relieve renal interstitial injury and this protection was associated with down-regulation of a-SMA and
TGF-beta 1 expressions.