Effect and Mechanism of Sequential Combination of Tripterygium Glycosides and Phellinus Linteus on Renal Injury in Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Rats

OBJECTIVE To observe the intervention effect and mechanism of tripterygium glycosides and Phellinus linteus on early renal function and pathological damage in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis(FSGS) rats model. METHODS The FSGS rat model was established through single nephrectomy and repeated injection of doxorubicin. Different interventions were conducted with Phellinus linteus decoction, tripterygium glycosides, and the combination of them. Serum creatine(Scr), urea nitrogen(BUN), and blood fat were analyzed. Masson staining was used to detect the pathological damage and fibrosis degree of kidney tissue. RT-PCR was used to determine the expression of renal cortex Collage IV, Fibronection, MMP9 and TIMP-1. RESULTS Compared with normal control group, the kidney function of the model group was significantly lower(P<0.05), whereas the levels of 24-hour urinary protein, blood fat, and myocardial enzyme were significantly higher(P<0.05). Compared with model group, different interventions could reduce proteinuria, improve renal function and lipid metabolism, reduce the level of myocardial enzymes and improve cardiac injury. Generally, the combined group was superior to the single intervention. Besides, the combined intervention or the tripterygium glycosides group both could significantly reduce the accumulation of extracellular matrix, increase the expression of MMP9 mRNA whereas reduce the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA. CONCLUSION The combination of Phellinus linteus and tripterygium glycosides can effectively improve the renal function and pathological damage of FSGS rats, which is expected to provide new treatment measures for the prevention and treatment of FSGS.