Calycosin may Alleviate Ang II-Induced Pro-proliferative Effects on Glomerular Mesangial Cells <i>via</i> Partially Inhibiting Autophagy and ERK Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Over-expression of angiotensin II (Ang II) is an important reason for the development of chronic kidney disease. Calycosin is the active component of traditional Chinese medicine astragali radix. The present work aims to explore whether calycosin could affect the growth and apoptosis ability of the Ang II treated glomerular mesangial cells and the underlying mechanism. Human glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) were cultured and treated by Ang II and 0, 0.1, 1 or 10 μM calycosin, and the viability and proliferation of the cells were determined by MTT and EdU staining; moreover, the apoptosis of the cells was examined by flow cytometry assay; furthermore, the expression levels of ERK, pERK , anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, as well as pro-apoptotic factor Bax have been examined by western blot methods; finally, the expression of autophagic markers in each group was examined by WB and immunocytochemistry methods. We found that Ang II increased viability and proliferation, meanwhile inhibited apoptosis of the GMCs; furthermore, 1 and 10 μM calycosin significantly inhibited the growth and promoted the apoptosis of the GMCs treated by Ang II; moreover, calycosin also inhibited ERK signaling in mesangial cells activated by Ang II treatment; Finally, calycosin could inhibit Ang II induced autophagy of GMCs in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, calycosin may alleviate Ang II-induced pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects on glomerular mesangial cells at least partially via inhibiting autophagy and ERK signaling pathway, suggesting that calycosin may function as a potential alternative medication for the management of chronic kidney diseases.

Protective effect of Astragalus membranaceus and Astragaloside IV in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury

“…By establishing a compound-target network, 17 preferred Astragalus compounds against SA-AKI were identified based on network topology parameters. These compounds were then combined with a literature search, and we found that isorhamnetin [ 19 ], kaempferol [ 20 ], formononetin [ 21 ], Mairin [ 22 ], Jaranol [ 23 ], and Calycosin [ 24 ] had been reported in the literature in sepsis or acute kidney injury. Calycosins are flavonoids that have been shown to improve the pathological parameters associated with LPS-induced acute kidney injury, including lowering blood creatinine and urea nitrogen levels and reducing the expression of inflammatory factors, possibly by acting on the TLR4/NF-κB pathway to protect renal function and maintain normal kidney status [ 25 ].…”