The impact of tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium on inflammatory factor and renal function of rats with IgA nephropathy

Objective To study the effect of tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium on inflammatory factor and renal function of rats with IgA nephropathy. Methods Forty SD rats were divided into blank control group, IgA nephropathy model group, tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group and prednisone group. IgA nephropathy model was established in IgA nephropathy model group, tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group and prednisone group. The animals in the Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group were given 6.25 mg/(kg·d) tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium, those in the prednisone group given 3.0 mg/(kg·d) prednisone, and those in the model group given pumping volume of sterile distilled water. Eight weeks after treatment, serum levels of inflammatory factors, and renal function were detected. Results (1) Model group serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) [(51.08±4.27), (490.52±53.31), (70.43±7.57) pg/ml] were significantly higher than blank group [(27.59±2.62), (369.45±42.57), (45.78±5.78) pg/ml], tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group inflammatory factor [(40.17±3.79), (490.52±53.31), (70.43±7.57) pg/ml] and prednisone group [(39.62±3.55), (483.56±54.39), (58.61±6.42) pg/ml] were significantly lower than modle group (t=6.043, 4.077, 6.775, 6.526, 4.302, 10.130; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000), prednisone group TGF-β1 [(58.61±6.42) pg/ml] were significantly lower thantripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group [(70.43±7.57) pg/ml; t=3.766, P=0.00], (2) Model group 24 h urine protein, creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary protein/creatinine (P/C) [(24.69±3.56) mg, (45.61±5.37) μmol/L, (11.28±1.33) mmol/L, 19.18±2.36] were significantly higher than blank group [(7.72±0.85) mg, (28.481±3.41) μmol/L, (5.06±0.64) mmol/L, 4.93±0.56; t=14.662, 8.516, 13.326, 18.578, P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000], thantripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group 24 h urine protein, Cr, BUN, P/C [(14.34±2.37) mg, (35.29±4.18) μmol/L, (8.87±1.02) mmol/L, 9.76±1.12] and prednisone group [(13.58±2.49) mg, (36.06±4.22) μmol/L, (8.63±1.00) mmol/L, 9.41±1.05] were significantly lower than modle group (t=7.653, 4.796, 4.457, 11.403, 8.087, 4.422, 5.000, 11.961; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000, 0.000) ; (3) Model group mean glomerular cross-sectional area (MGA), mean glomerular volume (MGV), renal index (RI), were significantly higher than black group [(5.41±0.74)×103 μm2, (5.04±0.72)×103 μm3, (0.36±0.10) g/100 g; t=8.131, 10.498, 4.525; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.000], thantripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium group [(6.58±0.82)×103 μm2, (6.61±0.76)×103 μm3, (0.45±0.15) g/100 g] and prednisone group [(6.61±0.84)×103 μm2, (6.72±0.80)×103 μm3, (0.47±0.17) g/100 g] were significantly lower than modle group (t=5.001, 6.659, 2.595, 4.882, 6.295, 2.167; P=0.000, 0.000, 0.020, 0.000, 0.000, 0.041). Conclusion Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium can protect renal function of rats with IgA nephropathy probably by inhibiting TNF-α, IL-6 secretion, and down-regulating the TGF-β1 expression. Key words: IgA nephropathy; Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium; Inflammatory factor; Renal function