Phellinus igniarius ameliorates renal aging in a rat model of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis

Abstract

Objective: To comparatively investigate the ameliorative effect of Phellinus igniarius (P. igniarius) on renal aging in a rat model of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Methods: The FSGS model was established in rats by uninephrectomy combined with tail vein injection of doxorubicin. The FSGS rats were randomly divided into the model group, the P. igniarius decoction group, the P. igniarius polysaccharides group, and the P. igniarius polyphenols group. Molecular indicators of cell senescence, renal function indexes, and podocyte injury markers were tested after ten weeks of intragastric administration. Besides, the pathological renal lesions and the ultrastructural changes were observed. Results: FSGS developed in the model group within ten weeks and showed segmental glomerular scarring and renal aging. Following the 10-week intervention, 24 h proteinuria, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, P16^INK4α, thrombospondin-1, and transforming growth factor-β1 were decreased in each treatment group, whereas albumin, erythropoietin, nephrin, and podocin were increased; the pathological renal injury was alleviated, and the number of senescent cells was reduced, especially in rats treated with P. igniarius decoction. Conclusions: P. igniarius ameliorates renal aging and renal injury in the FSGS rat model. Compared with the effective constituents (polysaccharides and polyphenols), P. igniarius decoction has a better curative effect, which is expected to provide a new therapeutic idea for FSGS.

Keywords

Phellinus igniarius / Polysaccharides / Polyphenols / FSGS / Renal aging / Rat / Renal injury

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

This work was supported by the Public Welfare Technology Application Research Program of Zhejiang Province (LGC21H290002) and Key Projects of Zhejiang Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (2020ZZ016).

Authors’ contributions

ZTW designed the study, conducted the animal experiments and molecular indicators, and drafted the manuscript. YWT and FW conducted animal experiments, detected renal function indexes and immunostaining. FW and RCY were responsible for financial support of the study. RCY conceived and designed the study, and provided final supervision. YG performed TEM, and modified the manuscript. JZ provided efforts in data analysis. YGL provided the Phellinus igniarius. WMH modified the manuscript. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.

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