Study on the Mechanism of Action of Nourishing Blood Diuretic Formula in the Treatment of Chronic Renal Failure and Anti-Renal Fibrosis Through TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway

Background Nourishing Blood Diuretic Formula (NBDF) is derived from the empirical formula of Prof. Fan Heng in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, which consists of 8 Chinese herbs, namely Abelmoschi corolla , Rhei Radix et Rhizoma , Astragali Radix , Angelicae Sinensis Radix , Poriae Cutis , Dioscoreae Rhizoma , Hirudo , Bombyx Batryticatus . This formula is designed based on the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in TCM. Objective This study aims to investigate the efficacy and reveal the mechanism of action of NBDF for the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF) by cell and animal experiments. Methods TGF-β1 protein was used to induce human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) to produce fibrosis, and different concentrations of NBDF-containing serum were given to detect the levels of Fibronectin and E-cadherin in HK-2 cells of each group after drug administration. Adenine gavage was used to make a rat model of chronic renal failure, and after the groups were finished administering the drug, the blood and kidneys were collected and used to detect renal function indexes and protein expression. Results NBDF can significantly improve the fibrosis of HK-2 cells, and improve renal function and renal fibrosis and reduce renal injury in model rats, and its mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Conclusion This study investigated the therapeutic effect and mechanism of action of chronic renal failure from cellular level and animal model, and provided experimental basis for the development of new drugs.