OBJECTIVETo investigate, from cytoprotein and molecular levels, the action mechanism of astragalus injection (ASI) on the signal conduction of human renal tubular cells (HK-2) injury induced by neonatal postasphyxial-serum (NPS), whether it is through activating the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway.

METHODSTaking HK-2 as the target cell and the 20% NPS as the attacking factor, the experiment was conducted by dividing the target cells into two groups before attacking, the blank control group and the ASI pretreated group. The nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB was detected by confocal microscopy with indirect immunofluorescence stain, and the amount of NF-kappaB inhibitor subunit (I-kappaBalpha) was detected by Western blot before attacking. The detections were repeated at various time points in the experiment, i.e., 15 min, 1 h and 2 h after attacking, respectively.

RESULTSBefore attacking, the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and the amount of I-kappaBalpha were not different in the two groups. But the former increased and the latter decreased significantly in the ASI group at all the time points after attacking with the topmost changes presented at 1 h after attacking, and significantly different to those in the control group at corresponding time

CONCLUSIONASI pretreatment could inhibit the activation of NF-kappaB induced by postasphyxial-serum.