|
| Yiqi Tongluo Formula alleviates renal fibrosis in UUO rats via the miR-21a-3p/TGF-β1/Smad3 axis |
| Hits 0 Download times 0 Received:January 26, 2026 |
| View Full Text View/Add Comment Download reader |
| DOI
10.11656/j.issn.1672-1519.2026.04.15 |
| Key Words
renal interstitial fibrosis;unilateral ureteral obstruction;Yiqi Tongluo Formula;miR-21a-3p/TGF-β1/Smad3 axis |
| Author Name | Affiliation | E-mail | | ZHANG Wenlei | Suzhou Wujiang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215200, China | | | YU Kena | Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China | | | YIN Xiaofan | Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China | | | SONG Qin | Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China | | | YANG Jialing | Suzhou Wujiang District Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou 215200, China | | | ZHAO Jing | Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China | | | SUN Wei | Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China | | | WANG Yaoguang | First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300381, China | wangyaoguang1012@126.com | | HE Weiming | Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China | yfy0019@njucm.edu.cn |
|
| Abstract
|
| [Objective] This study investigates the effect of miR-21a-3p on transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1）-induced renal tubular epithelial cell（NRK-52E） fibrosis and unilateral ureteral obstruction（UUO） rat models，and explores the mechanism of Yiqi Tongluo Formula in anti-renal fibrosis via the miR-21a-3p/TGF-β1/Smad3 axis. [Methods] The miR-21a-3p was first identified as significantly upregulated in renal fibrosis rat models through the Gene Expression Omnibus（GEO） database. A TGF-β1-induced NRK-52E fibrosis model was established for validation. Cell experiments included normal control，disease model，inhibitor negative control，and miR-21a-3p inhibitor groups. RT-qPCR measured miR-21a-3p expression，while Western blot detected fibrosis markers（collagen I，fibronectin） and epithelial-mesenchymal transition（EMT） markers（α-SMA，E-cadherin）. Animal experiments divided rats into six groups：sham-operated，model，low/medium/high-dose Yiqi Tongluo Formula，and losartan potassium groups（n=10 per group）. UUO model rats received interventions for two weeks. HE and Masson staining evaluated renal pathology，RT-qPCR measured miR-21a-3p，collagen I，fibronectin，and TGF-β1 mRNA levels，and Western blot assessed TGF-β1，Smad3，p-Smad3，α-SMA，and E-cadherin protein expression. [Results] In cells，the model and inhibitor negative control groups showed significantly upregulated miR-21a-3p，collagen I，fibronectin，and α-SMA with downregulated E-cadherin compared to normal controls. The miR-21a-3p inhibitor group reversed these changes. In UUO rats，the model group exhibited severe fibrosis，increased collagen volume，and elevated miR-21a-3p，collagen I，fibronectin，and TGF-β1 expression versus sham group. Yiqi Tongluo Formula and losartan potassium alleviated fibrosis，reduced collagen volume，and downregulated miR-21a-3p，TGF-β1，p-Smad3/Smad3，and α-SMA while upregulating E-cadherin. [Conclusion] Yiqi Tongluo Formula may inhibit renal fibrosis by suppressing miR-21a-3p expression，blocking TGF-β1/Smad3 signaling，and reducing extracellular matrix production and EMT. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
