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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Kidney Injury | Research article

Bupi Yishen formula attenuates kidney injury in 5/6 nephrectomized rats via the tryptophan-kynurenic acid-aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway

Authors: Yenan Mo, Xina Jie, Lixin Wang, Chunlan Ji, Yueyu Gu, Zhaoyu Lu, Xusheng Liu

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Bupi Yishen Formula (BYF), a patent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulation, has been used in the clinical treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the mechanism of action of BYF has not been fully elucidated.

Method

To investigate the variation in the metabolic profile in response to BYF treatment in a rat model of 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx), rats in the treatment groups received low- or high-dose BYF. At the end of the study, serum and kidney samples were collected for biochemical, pathological, and western blotting analysis. Metabolic changes in serum were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

The results showed that BYF treatment could reduce kidney injury, inhibit inflammation and improve renal function in a dose-dependent manner. In total, 405 and 195 metabolites were identified in negative and positive ion modes, respectively. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis of differential metabolites based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database identified 35 metabolic pathways, 3 of which were related to tryptophan metabolism. High-dose BYF reduced the level of kynurenic acid (KA) by more than 50%, while increasing melatonin 25-fold and indole-3-acetic acid twofold. Expression levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), Cyp1A1, and CyP1B1 were significantly reduced in the kidney tissue of rats with high-dose BYF, compared to 5/6 Nx rats.

Conclusion

BYF has a reno-protective effect against 5/6 Nx-induced CKD, which may be mediated via inhibition of the tryptophan-KA-AhR pathway.

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Title: Bupi Yishen formula attenuates kidney injury in 5/6 nephrectomized rats via the tryptophan-kynurenic acid-aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway
Authors: Yenan Mo
Xina Jie
Lixin Wang
Chunlan Ji
Yueyu Gu
Zhaoyu Lu
Xusheng Liu
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Kidney Injury
Chronic Kidney Disease
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03376-1

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Bupi Yishen formula attenuates kidney injury in 5/6 nephrectomized rats via the tryptophan-kynurenic acid-aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

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