Mechanism Investigation of Astragalus Puerariae Decoction on Acute Kidney Injury Induced by Ischemia/Reperfusion in Mice

GAO Boyang; SHAO Fangbing; XIA Qiongzhang; WANG Yongbiao

Abstract：Objective To investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of Astragalus Puerariae decoction(APD)on ischemia/reperfusion(IR)-induced acute kidney injury(AKI)in mice.Methods 32 C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into sham,APD,IR,and IR+APD group,with 8 mice in each group.Mouse model of IR induced acute kidney injury was constructed by bilateral renal pedicle occlusion and reperfusion.IR+APD group mice were given 1 mL APD by gavage 72,48,and 24 hours before bilateral renal pedicle occlusion surgery.The APD group mice were given the same dose of APD at the same time point.Renal function was evaluated by detecting BUN and SCr.Pathological changes of kidney were evaluated using HE staining.Flow cytometry was used to detect renal lymphocyte infiltration.The inflammatory cytokines IL-1β,IL-6,TNF-α and NF-κB p65 were evaluated using ELISA.Cell apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells was detected using TUNEL.Western blot was used to detect the levels of NF-κB p65 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65(NF-κB p-p65).Results Compared with the sham group,rats in IR group showed significant increases in BUN and SCr levels,disruption of normal renal tubular structure,significant increase in T lymphocyte infiltration and apoptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells,and upregulation of NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p-p65 levels(P<0.05).Compared with IR group,APD treatment significantly improved the indicators above(P<0.05).Conclusion APD may protect renal function from IR-induced tubular epithelial cell apoptosis by inhibiting inflammatory response and lymphocyte infiltration through NF-κB pathway.