Protective effects of Huang Qi Huai granules on adriamycin nephrosis in rats

Abstract

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.

Protective effect of a direct renin inhibitor in acute murine model of cardiotoxicity and nephrotoxicity

“…In DXR control group, the podocyte slit pore diameters were decreased by 55.5% and up to half of the slits were tight. Thus, the filtration surface area between podocytes was Protection of rats by direct renin inhibition significantly reduced followed by broadening of the base of podocytes and disruption of the filtration slit structure, which is consistent with the previous studies [63,64]. Loss of glomerular filtration integrity was prevented in ALK 100-pretreated group, indicating that ALK has potential to prevent the DXR-induced renal damage.…”

Effect of Huaier On the Proliferation of Mesangial Cells in Anti-Thy-1 Nephritis

“…Huai Qi Huang (HQH), a compound Chinese herbal medicine that contains Huaier, wolfberry fruit, and Polygonatum, can ameliorate proteinuria and hematuria in cases of mild IgA nephropathy [34]. HQH significantly reduces proteinuria and ameliorates tubulointerstitial damage in adriamycin nephrosis in rats [35]. The main ingredient of Huaiqihuang is Huaier, and no studies have thus far assessed the effect of Huaier in MsPGN.…”

Huaier Cream Protects against Adriamycin-Induced Nephropathy by Restoring Mitochondrial Function via PGC-1αUpregulation

“…Huaier cream, a Chinese traditional medicine, is a kind of Trametes robiniophila Murr., of which the extract has potent free radical-scavenging and immunomodulating properties [ 9 ]. We previously reported that Huaier exerts a protective effect in the adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy rat model by inhibiting inflammatory cytokine expression and preventing podocyte injury [ 10 ]. The proteinuria of ADR-induced rats was significantly decreased with Huaier treatments and fusion of podocyte processes was alleviated [ 10 ].…”