Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41161814›Full record

ArticleLupus science & medicine2025

Amelioration of renal injury by Qihuang Jianpi Zishen Granules in lupus mice is correlated with AMPK/ULK1-dependent modulation of macrophage polarisation.

Ai Qian, Kexin Hu, Yawen Zhu, Yuanyuan Cheng, Ming Li, Chuanbing Huang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Lupus science & medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Ai QianThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.ORCID 0009-0000-5071-136X
Kexin HuThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Yawen ZhuThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Yuanyuan ChengThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Ming LiThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
Chuanbing HuangThe First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China chuanbinh@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo investigate the effects of Qihuang Jianpi Zishen Granules (QJZG) on renal injury in SLE mice, focusing on macrophage M1/M2 polarisation mediated by the AMPK/ULK1 signalling pathway.

methodsParameters of renal function and proteinuria were assessed. Pathological changes in the kidney were examined using H&E, periodic acid-Schiff and Masson's trichrome staining. Serum inflammatory factor levels were quantified using ELISA. The expression levels of the glycolysis rate-limiting enzymes hexokinase 2 (HK2) and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) were determined, and the transcriptional levels of AMPK/ULK1 pathway components were measured using quantitative PCR. The abundance of proteins associated with AMPK/ULK1 signalling was assessed via immunoblotting. Flow cytometry was used to quantify CD86+ M1 type and CD206+ M2 type macrophage populations. Dual immunofluorescence staining was employed to visualise F4/80+CD86+ and F4/80+CD206+ coexpression patterns.

resultsCompared with the Untreated group, mice in the PRED (prednisone acetate), QJZG and 2-Deoxy-D-glucose groups exhibited improved renal histopathology, reduced levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, 24-hour RRO (24-hour urinary protein), ACR (Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio), TPCR (Urine Total Protein-to-Creatinine Ratio), tumour necrosis factor alpha, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12, IL-23, IL-27, HK2, GLUT1, mTOR, CD86 and iNOS messenger RNA (mRNA), CD86 and iNOS proteins, M1 macrophages, M1/M2 macrophages and F4/80+CD86 expression (p<0.05). They also displayed increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta, IL-4, IL-10, C-C motif chemokine ligand 18, AMPK, ULK1, Atg13, CD206 and Arg-1 mRNA, AMPK, ULK1, CD206 and Arg-1 proteins, M2 macrophages and F4/80+CD206 (p<0.05).

conclusionQJZG effectively improved renal injury in SLE by reducing inflammation and modulating the AMPK/ULK1 signalling pathway to suppress M1 macrophage polarisation.

Indexed as

AMP-Activated Protein KinasesAutophagy-Related Protein-1 HomologDrugs, Chinese HerbalLupus NephritisMacrophagesAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleKidneyMiceProteinuriaSignal TransductionAMP-Activated Protein KinasesAutophagy-Related Protein-1 HomologDrugs, Chinese HerbalUlk1 protein, mouseCytokinesInflammationLupus Erythematosus, SystemicLupus Nephritis

Identifiers

PMID41161814
PMCPMC12574411

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.