Jiangzhi Tongluo Soft Capsules Regulate SIRT1/FoxO3 Pathway to Affect Cell Apoptosis in Rats with Membranous Nephropathy / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of Jiangzhi Tongluo soft capsule on the protein levels of silent mating-type information regulation 2 homolog 1 （SIRT1） and forkhead transcription factor FoxO3 and podocyte apoptosis in the renal tissue of rats with membranous nephropathy and to reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms for the treatment of MN. MethodSixty male SD rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups with 10 rats each. The six groups included a normal group， a model group， benazepril hydrochloride group， and Jiangzhi Tongluo soft capsule groups of low， medium and high doses （25， 50， 100 mg·kg-1， respectively）. The model rats were established by injection with cationized bovine serum albumin into the tail vein. After modeling， the rats were administrated with corresponding agents by gavage for 4 weeks. At the end of the 4th week， an electron microscope was used to observe the pathological changes in the kidney. Western blot was employed to detect the protein levels of SIRT1 and FoxO3 protein in rat kidney， and immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of B lymphocytoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， Bcl-2-associated death promoter （Bad）， and podocyte split diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin. ResultCompared with normal group， the expression of pro-apoptotic factors Bax， Bad， and FoxO3 in the kidney was up-regulated （P<0.05）， while that of anti-apoptotic factors Bcl-2， SIRT1， nephrin， and podocin was down-regulated （P<0.05） after modeling. Compared with the model group， the treatments down-regulated the expression of Bax， Bad， and FoxO3 （P<0.05） and up-regulated that of Bcl-2， SIRT1， nephrin， and podocin （P<0.05）. ConclusionJiangzhi Tongluo soft capsule may regulate the SIRT1/FoxO3 pathway to reduce podocyte apoptosis and maintain podocyte structure stability， thereby exerting the renal protection effect.