Traditional Chinese Herbal Qian Yang Yu Yin Granules Treat Renal Damage in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats by Inhibiting Renal Fibrosis

Background: Qian Yang Yu Yin Granules (QYYYG) is a Chinese herbal formula. It has been used in the clinical treatment of hypertensive renal impairment for more than 30 years. The pilot study curative effect is distinct. Methods: We elucidated the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic benefits of QYYYG, validate the drug-target predicted by the systems pharmacology analysis. WKY as control group. SHR were randomly divided into 3 groups: SHR, SHR+ Valsartan(0.03g/kg/d) and SHR +QYYY(5g/kg/d). WKY and SHR were gavage by distilled water. ELISA detected renal damage, tubular injury and fibrosis markers. HE and Masson staining to observe the general view and fibrosis degree. Results: After 4 weeks treatment, QYYYG reduced the levels of blood pressure and the expression of mALB, α1-MG, β2-MG, NGAL, KIM-1 and IL-18. HE staining of SHR kidneys showed classical pathological lesions including accumulation of extracellular matrix, infiltration of inflammatory cells and apparent interstitial fibrosis where renal fibrosis. These pathologic changes were reversed by QYYYG. The serum levels of LN, HA, pro-Col III and Col IV was also decreased. Similar results were found with Masson staining. RT-qPCR selected confirmed the reduced expression of TGF-β and the downstream fibrotic genes, closely associated with EMT in renal fibrosis. Overall, the therapeutic effects of QYYYG on renal fibrosis were consistent with those predicted by pathway analysis. Conclusions: Network-based analyses such as those described here may contribute to the holistic understanding and pharmacological evaluation of herbal remedies. QYYYG was validated as an effective treatment for hypertensive renal fibrosis.