[Effect of matrine on regulating renal tubulointerstitial expression of MMP-3, TIMP-1 and FN]

To explore the effect and mechanism of matrine on regulating renal tubulointerstitium expression of MMP-3, TIMP-1 and FN.

Seventy male SD rats were randomly allocated to five groups: normal group, shame UUO group, UUO group, UUO group treated with fusinopril (F group), UUO group treated with large dose of matrine (E group) and UUO group treated with small dose of matrine (D group). The expression levels of MMP-3, TIMP-1 and FN of the rats were determined with immunohistochemistry at 7, 14 days of the experiment.

The expression levels of MMP-3 of the rats in the UUO group and treatment groups decreased significantly compared with the normal group and shame UUO group (P<0.05). The treatment groups had higher expression of MMP-3 than that of the UUO group (P< 0.05). The expression levels of TIMP-1 and FN of the rats in the normal group and shame UUO group were amongst the lowest. The treatment groups had lower expression of TIMP-1 and FN than that of the UUO group (P<0.05). No significant difference of expression of MMP-3, FN and TIMP-1 were found between E group and F group (P>0.05). The expression level of MMP-3 was negatively correlated with those of TIMP-1 and FN in the UUO group (P < 0.01).

Matrine decreases the expression of TIMP-1 and FN in the tubulointerstitium and increases the expression of MMP-3, which would delay the progression of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.