Effect of serum containing Fushen Jiangzhuo formula on TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction pathway in renal interstitial fibroblast of renal tubulointerstitial lesion rat model

AIM:To study the protective effects of Fushen Jiangzhuo formula (FSJZ) on renal interstitial fibroblasts in the rats with renal tubulointerstitial lesion. METHODS:The serum containing FSJZ and blank serum were prepared. The rat model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) was established, and the tubulointerstitial lesion model was developed by extending the time of the MsPGN model to 20 weeks. The renal interstitial fibroblasts from the model rats were cultured at 12, 16 and 20 weeks. The effect of FSJZ on the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad3 and Smad7 at mRNA and protein levels in the pathological renal interstitial fibroblasts was determined. RESULTS:The TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction pathway changed in pathological renal interstitial fibroblasts. The renal tubulointerstitial lesion significantly up-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3, and down-regulated the expression of Smad7. The FSJZ-containing serum significantly down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3, and up-regulated the expression of Smad7, thus antagonizing the effects caused by renal tubulointerstitial lesion. CONCLUSION: FSJZ-containing serum has protective effects on renal interstitial fibroblasts. The mechanism may be related to the regulatory effects of FSJZ on TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction pathway.