Oxidative Stress and TGF- β 1/Smads Signaling Are Involved in Rosa roxburghii Fruit Extract Alleviating Renal Fibrosis

• Published in: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2019-08, Vol.2019, p.1-11
• Main Authors: Zhan, Jihong, Liu, Mingjie, Pan, Lijun, He, Liqun, Guo, Yinxue
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288
• DOI: 10.1155/2019/4946580

Fibrosis is involved in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases. We previously discovered that Rosa roxburghii fruit (Cili) possesses antifibrosis property in chronic renal disease, but the mechanisms are unknown. We hypothesized that Cili might prevent fibrosis development through mediating TGF- β /Smads signaling, which is known to be involved in renal fibrosis. This study aimed to confirm the effects of freeze-dried Cili powder in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and examine TGF- β /Smads signaling. Rats were randomized to (n=12/group): sham operation, UUO, UUO with losartan, UUO with moderate Cili dose (3 g/kg/d), and UUO with high Cili dose (6 g/kg/d). The rats were sacrificed after 14 days of treatment. Collagen deposition was tested using Masson’s staining. TGF- β /Smads signaling was examined by qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Rats in the UUO group showed excessive deposition of collagen in kidney interstitium, accompanied with high levels of renal 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, renal malondialdehyde, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), and proteinuria (all P