Danggui Shaoyao San alleviates nephrotic syndrome by regulating inerleukin 13/signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 axis.

The research focused on investigating the function and underlying mechanisms of Danggui Shaoyao San (DSS) in nephrotic syndrome (NS). The NS rat model was established using doxorubicin (Dox), and 24-hour urinary protein (UP) level was measured in NS rats. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were detected using an automatic biochemical analyzer; morphological changes of renal tissues were observed by HE staining; serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were measured by ELISA; and the protein expression of interleukin 13 (IL-13), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), phospho signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (p-STAT6) was evaluated by Western blot. NS cell model was established using Dox. Cell viability was detected by MTT, and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. DSS reduced UP, BUN, and SCr levels and also decreased serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels in NS rats in a dose-dependent manner. Renal tissue injury in NS rats was significantly lessened by DSS. Finally, DSS increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis. In a dose-dependent manner, DSS led to a dose-dependent inhibition of IL-13 and p-STAT6 protein expression. DSS alleviates NS by inhibiting IL-13/STAT6 axis activation.