Effects of Yishentongluo Recipe on Nrf2 and HO-1 pathway activation leading to reduction of oxidative stress and kidney fibrosis in membranous nephropathy rat model

Abstract

This study investigated Yishentongluo Recipe (YSTLF) effects on renal oxidative stress and fibrosis in membranous nephropathy (MN) rats. MN was induced by cationized bovine serum albumin injection. Rats were divided into control, MN, YSTLF, and benazepril groups. After four weeks of treatment, urine protein levels (UTP), serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB) were assessed. Kidney microstructure, IgG immune complex deposition, and protein expressions of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), collagen I (Collagen-I), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2), haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) were evaluated. YSTLF and BNPL treatments reduced UTP, TC, TG, increased TP and ALB levels, downregulated TGF-β1, Collagen-I, and α-SMA, and upregulated Nrf2, HO-1, and NOX4. YSTLF partially reversed SOD reduction and MDA elevation, suggesting its efficacy in alleviating renal oxidative stress and fibrosis in MN rats via Nrf2/HO1 signaling pathway activation.