AUTHOR=Zheng Wei , Huang Tao , Tang Qi-Zhen , Li Shi , Qin Jie , Chen Feng 

TITLE=Astragalus Polysaccharide Reduces Blood Pressure, Renal Damage, and Dysfunction Through the TGF-β1-ILK Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2021.706617

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2021.706617

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold><italic>Astragalus</italic> polysaccharide extract (APS) has been shown to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in the treatment of several diseases. However, whether APS could protect against renal damage in hypertensive mice is unknown.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting were used to investigate the effect of APS on the renal damage in deoxycorticosterone acetate- (DOCA) salt- and angiotensin II- (Ang II-) induced hypertensive mice and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Our data demonstrated that APS significantly reduced blood pressure in DOCA-salt- and Ang II-treated mice. Furthermore, APS reduced the inflammatory response and renal fibrosis, thereby improving renal function. Furthermore, the levels of serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and uric acid increased in DOCA-salt-treated mice, alleviated by APS administration. At the molecular level, DOCA-salt and Ang II increased the mRNA levels of IL-1<italic>β</italic>, IL-6, <italic>α</italic>-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III, while APS significantly inhibited these effects. APS inhibited the TGF-<italic>β</italic>1/ILK signaling pathway, which was activated in hypertensive mice due to the administration of DOCA-salt.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our results suggest that APS plays a beneficial role in improving renal dysfunction in hypertensive mice.</p>