Qigui-Yishen decoction delays renal fibrosis in mice with chronic kidney disease by regulating TM and PAI-1

• Published in: American journal of translational research 2024-01, Vol.16 (6), p.2358-2368
• Main Authors: Lu, Xun, Wan, Xiao-Wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 1943-8141; 1943-8141
• DOI: 10.62347/GHOV4912

To explore the mechanism of Qigui-Yishen decoction in delaying renal fibrosis in mice by regulating thrombin regulatory protein (Thrombomodulin, TM) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) based on network pharmacology. The active ingredients of Qigui Yishen decoction and their target molecules associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were retrieved from websites and databases, sorted out, and screened, and the possible targets of Qigui Yishen decoction for reducing CKD renal fibrosis were predicted and analyzed. Forty Institute of Cancer research (ICR) rats were used to establish a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model, and divided into several groups: sham operation group, model group, high concentration decoction group (1 g/mL), low concentration decoction group (0.46 g/mL), and benazepril group (0.1 g/mL). At the end of the experiment, the levels of serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were detected. Masson staining was used to observe changes in the renal interstitial fibrosis index. Immunohistochemistry and western blot were used to detect the expressions of TM, PAI-1, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and collagen I (Col I) in kidney tissues, and the differences between groups were compared. Qigui Yishen decoction contains 42 effective ingredients such as sitosterol, mannitol, and quercetin, with 662 drug targets and 16154 disease targets. Analysis revealed 570 potential targets, including TM4SF19, PAIP1, TGF-β1, and Col I-AI. Compared to the sham operation group, all treatment groups exhibited increased Scr and BUN levels (P