[Regulative effect of Astragalus mongholicus on hepatocyte growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta1 in rats...

To study the effect of Astragalus mongholicus (AM) on renal interstitial fibrosis caused by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats in order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the renoprotective effects of AM.

54 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: sham-operation group (Sham), the UUO group(UUO) and UUO + AM group (AM). The rats were treated at the doses of 10 g/(kg X d) AM for 3, 7 and 14 days, the dynamic histological changes of renal interstitial tissues were observed and renal damage including tubular impairment and interstitial fibrosis were quantified on HE and Masson stained tissue sections. The expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were measured by immunohistochemistry staining sections. The mRNA of HGF and TGF-beta1 were reverse transcribed and quantified by real-time PCR. The expressions of HGF and TGF-beta1 protein were assessed by Western blot.

Renal damages were exacerbated and the expressions of TGF-beta1 were significantly increased in UUO group in comparison with those of Sham group (P < 0.05) at each time point. HGF expression increased initially and peaked at the day of 7 after UUO and then decreased greatly. The tubular impairment and interstitial fibrosis were alleviated, up-regulations of expressions of TGF-beta1 were significantly suppressed, while expressions of HGF were significantly increased in UUO + AM group in comparison with UUO group (P < 0.05).

AM could ameliorate renal interstitial fibrosis induced by UUO in rats. The mechanisms of antifibrotic effects of AM may be associated with up-regulation of HGF expression and down-regulation of TGF-beta1 expression in renal intersitial progress.