The antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of FZHY prescription on the kidney in rats after unilateral ureteral obstruction

ABSTRACT

Purpose:  To explore the potential impact of traditional Chinese herb FuZhengHuaYuJiangZhuTongLuo recipe (FZHY) on renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) at cellular and molecular levels.

Methods:  Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rats were established as the RIF model in vivo. The rats were given intragastric administration with FZHY once a day for consecutive 7, 14 and 21 days, respectively. The renal function parameters and inflammation indicators in kidney tissues were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood was detected using flow cytometry, the renal fibrosis degree was estimated using Masson’s staining, and the fibrosis-related genes’ expression was detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry analyses.

Results:  FZHY prescription reduced the serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, decreased the levels of c-reactive protein, interleukin-1, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in kidney tissues, and increased the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood. FZHY prescription suppressed the renal tissue fibrosis and reduced the levels of laminin, fibronectin, collagen I and collagen III.

Conclusions:  FZHY prescription suppressed the renal fibrosis and improved the condition of “Healthy Qi Deficiency and Evil Qi Excess” in rats with UUO, which may provide an effective method for CKD treatment.

Key words
FZHY; Chronic kidney disease; Fibrosis; Inflammation; CD4 Antigens; CD8 Antigens