OBJECTIVE

Shen Qi Wan (SQW) is the most classic prescription for the clinical therapy of chronic kidney disease in China. Nevertheless, the function of SQW in renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) has not been clearly clarified. Our purpose was to explore the protective function of SQW on RIF.

METHODS

After intervention with SQW-containing serum alone at increasing concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10%) or in combination with siNotch1, the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-)-induced HK-2 cell viability, extracellular matrix (ECM)-, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and Notch1 pathway-associated protein expressions were assessed by cell counting kit-8, qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescence assays.

RESULTS

SQW-containing serum intensified the viability of TGF--mediated HK-2 cells. Besides, it augmented the collagen II and E-cadherin levels, and weakened the fibronectin, -SMA, vimentin, N-cadherin, and collagen I levels in HK-2 cells triggered by TGF-. Moreover, it is found that TGF- led to the upregulation of Notch1, Jag1, HEY1, HES1, and TGF- in HK-2 cells, which was partially offset by SQW-containing serum. Furthermore, cotreatment of SQW-containing serum and Notch1 knockdown further apparently alleviated the Notch1, vimentin, N-cadherin, collagen I, and fibronectin levels in HK-2 cells induced by TGF-.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these findings elucidated that SQW-containing serum attenuated RIF via restraining EMT through the repression of the Notch1 pathway.