ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2016
Effect of astragalus injection on renal tubular epithelial transdifferentiation in type 2 diabetic mice.
Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Trial
- Research Progress on Pathogenesis of Diabetic Nephropathy and Intervention with Traditional Chinese Medicine.Journal of multidisciplinary healthcare · 2026Review
- Ultrasound enhances the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells wrapped in greater omentum for aristolochic acid nephropathy.Stem cell research & therapy · 2021Article
- The modified Yi qi decoction protects cardiac ischemia-reperfusion induced injury in rats.BMC complementary and alternative medicine · 2017Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundAstragalus injection is used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine to treat diabetic nephropathy (DN). The current study was conducted to determine the effect of astragalus on tubular epithelial transdifferentiation during the progression of DN in KKAy mice, as well as to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying this effect.
methodsDiabetic, 14-week-old, male KKAy mice were randomly divided into a model group and an astragalus treatment group, while age-matched male C57BL/6 J mice were selected as controls. The treatment group received daily intraperitoneal injections of astragalus (0.03 mL/10 g per day), while the model group received injections of an equal volume of saline. Mice were euthanized after 24 weeks. Serum samples were obtained from the animals in each group for blood glucose measurement. Kidney tissue samples were used for morphometric studies. The mRNA and protein expression levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFβ-R1), alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and E-cadherin were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting.
resultsAstragalus significantly reduced blood glucose levels; inhibited morphological changes in the kidneys of KKAy mice; reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of TGF-β1, TGFβ-R1, and α-SMA; and increased E-cadherin expression.
conclusionsTubular epithelial transdifferentiation plays an important role in the development of DN in diabetic mice. Administration of astragalus likely prevents or mitigates DN by suppressing tubular epithelial transdifferentiation, protecting KKAy mice from renal damage.
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