Objective To investigate the protective effect of hederagenin(HDG)on cisplatin(Cis)-induced acute kidney injury(AKI)in mice and its potential mechanism.Methods 24 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group,AKI model group,HDG low-dose group,and HDG high-dose group,with six mice in each group.AKI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg cisplatin(Cis).The HDG low-dose and HDG high-dose groups were given 20,40 mg/kg HDG by intragastric administration,respectively,and samples were collected 3 days later.The kidneys of the mice were collected for hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and periodic-acid-schiff(PAS)staining to evaluate the kidney pathology,and serum was collected to detect changes in serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN).The expression of p-P65,P65,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,and other inflammatory-related proteins was detected by Western Blot.A TCMK1(renal tubular epithelial cell)inflammatory cell model was established by Cis(200 ng/mL)stimulation in vitro.Blank group,Cis model group,HDG low-dose group,HDG high-dose group,Axin2 overexpression group,HDG+Axin2 overexpression group were set up.In the Axin2-overexpression group,the expression of p-P65,P65,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,Axin2,and AREG was detected among total cell proteins.Results Compared with the control group,AKI model mice exhibited significantly elevated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels(P<0.05),accompanied by pathological alterations including vacuolar degeneration of renal tubules,inflammatory cell infiltration,and glycogen deposition,and the expression of inflammation-related proteins(p-P65,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β)and Axin2 was markedly upregulated in AKI mice(P<0.05).HDG treatment induced a dose-dependent reduction in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels(high-dose>low-dose,P<0.05),alleviated renal histopathological damage,and concurrently suppressed the expression of these inflammatory mediators and Axin2(P<0.05).HDG was confirmed that dose-dependently inhibited Cis-induced upregulation of Axin2,and inflammatory cytokines in vitro experiments.Transcriptome sequencing revealed that Axin2 overexpression significantly increased amphiregulin(AREG)expression(P<0.05).Mechanistically,HDG reduced p-P65 phosphorylation by suppressing the Axin2/AREG axis(P<0.05),while Axin2 overexpression abolished the protective effects of HDG against Cis-induced renal tubular cell injury.Conclusions HDG protects against renal injury in AKI mice by reducing inflammation through the inhibition of Axin2/AREG axis activation.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of hederagenin(HDG)on cisplatin(Cis)-induced acute kidney injury(AKI)in mice and its potential mechanism.Methods 24 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into a control group,AKI model group,HDG low-dose group,and HDG high-dose group,with six mice in each group.AKI model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 20 mg/kg cisplatin(Cis).The HDG low-dose and HDG high-dose groups were given 20,40 mg/kg HDG by intragastric administration,respectively,and samples were collected 3 days later.The kidneys of the mice were collected for hematoxylin-eosin(HE)and periodic-acid-schiff(PAS)staining to evaluate the kidney pathology,and serum was collected to detect changes in serum creatinine(Scr)and blood urea nitrogen(BUN).The expression of p-P65,P65,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,and other inflammatory-related proteins was detected by Western Blot.A TCMK1(renal tubular epithelial cell)inflammatory cell model was established by Cis(200 ng/mL)stimulation in vitro.Blank group,Cis model group,HDG low-dose group,HDG high-dose group,Axin2 overexpression group,HDG+Axin2 overexpression group were set up.In the Axin2-overexpression group,the expression of p-P65,P65,IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,Axin2,and AREG was detected among total cell proteins.Results Compared with the control group,AKI model mice exhibited significantly elevated serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels(P<0.05),accompanied by pathological alterations including vacuolar degeneration of renal tubules,inflammatory cell infiltration,and glycogen deposition,and the expression of inflammation-related proteins(p-P65,TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β)and Axin2 was markedly upregulated in AKI mice(P<0.05).HDG treatment induced a dose-dependent reduction in serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels(high-dose>low-dose,P<0.05),alleviated renal histopathological damage,and concurrently suppressed the expression of these inflammatory mediators and Axin2(P<0.05).HDG was confirmed that dose-dependently inhibited Cis-induced upregulation of Axin2,and inflammatory cytokines in vitro experiments.Transcriptome sequencing revealed that Axin2 overexpression significantly increased amphiregulin(AREG)expression(P<0.05).Mechanistically,HDG reduced p-P65 phosphorylation by suppressing the Axin2/AREG axis(P<0.05),while Axin2 overexpression abolished the protective effects of HDG against Cis-induced renal tubular cell injury.Conclusions HDG protects against renal injury in AKI mice by reducing inflammation through the inhibition of Axin2/AREG axis activation.

Objective To study the effect and potential mechanism of Chaihuang Yishen Granules on renal fibrosis in mice with chronic kidney disease.Methods Thirty-six C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into sham group,model group,low-,and high-dose Chaihuang Yishen Granules groups(3.835 g·kg-1 and 7.67 g·kg-1),positive control group and Mincle ligand trehalose-6,6-dibehenate(TDB 10 mg·kg-1)group.Unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO)was used to establish the model of renal fibrosis in mice.One hour after operation,mice in each drug-treated group were given corresponding drugs by gavage,and sham operation group and model group were given saline by gavage,once a day for 7 consecutive days.The pathological changes and fibrosis in the kidneys of mice in all groups were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining and Sirius red staining.The expressions and secretions of inflammatory factor IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in kidneys of all groups were detected by Real-time PCR and ELISA.Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot were used to detect fibrosis indicators,including α-SMA and Fn protein levels.Immunofluorescence and Western Blot were further used to determine protein levels of Mincle and its downstream signal Syk/NF-κB.The proportion of Mincle positive macrophages was analyzed by flow cytometry.Results Compared with the model group,low-and high-dose Chaihuang Yishen Granules can effectively improve UUO-induced renal injury and fibrosis,and inhibit α-SMA and Fn protein levels in the kidney(P＜0.01).Moreover,high-dose Chaihuang Yishen Granules can effectively reduce the expressions and secretions of inflammatory factor IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α of kidney in UUO model(P＜0.01),as well as inhibit phosphorylation of NF-κB(P＜0.01).The mechanism study showed that Chaihuang Yishen Granules could significantly reduce the protein level of Mincle and the activity of its downstream signal Syk in the kidney of UUO mice(P＜0.01).After TDB was used to activate Mincle,the effect of Chaihuang Yishen Granules on improving renal injury,inflammatory factor secretion and fibrosis was significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Chaihuang Yishen Granules can improve UUO-induced renal injury,inflammation and fibrosis,and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of Mincle/Syk/NF-κB signaling pathway.