Objective: To investigate the expression of HSPG in glomerular base membrane of adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN) rats, and the effect of Qufengtongluo recipe on HSPG mRNA expression and proteinuria in AN rats.
Methods: One hundred forty rats were used in this study, including 32 rats in normal control group. AN was induced in the left rats by a single tail intravenous injection of adriamycin. Three weeks later, 90 AN rats were randomly divided into five groups; the nephropathy group (B, n=18), the Qufeng group (C, n=18), Qufeng and prednisone group (D, n=18), prednisone group(E,n=18) and benazepri group (F, n= 18). The rats in these five groups were treated with different combination of Qufeng recipe and prednisone. In each group, renal tissue samples were collected at week 3 and 7. The distribution, expression of HSPG was examined by indirect immunofluorescence, and semi-quantity RT-PCR, respectively.
Results: (1) In AN rats, the diffuse fusion and effacement of foot processes were observed when model established. (2) Compared with nephropathy group, the average fluorescence intensity of HSPG dramatically increased in Qufeng group and prednisone group (P < 0.01), similarly, it also increased in D and F groups (P < 0.01). (3) Compared with nephropathy group, the expression of HSPG mRNA was significantly up-regulated in other groups. (P < 0.01), especially in C and F groups. There was significant negative correlation between the expression of HSPG and quantity of 24-hour proteinuria.
Conclusion: The abnormal expression of HSPG and their altered distributions may be an important molecular mechanism that leads to the occurrence and development of proteinuria in AN rats. The effect of Qufengtongluo recipe on nephrotic syndrome might be related to the alteration of HSPG expression and distribution in glomerulus.