Inhibitory effect of soybean isoflavone genistein on renal TGF-β_1 in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction

Objective To investigate the preventive effect of soybean isoflacone genistein on rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and the related mechanisms. Methods Rats were randomly divided into the following groups: sham-operation (group S, n=18), UUO group (group C, n=30), and geinstein treatment group (group G, n=42, at the dose of 200 mg·kg -1 ·d -1 ). At 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 d after operation, the pathological changes of the ligated kidneys were observed and the expression of mRNA of TGF-β 1 in renal tissues was examined by RT-PCR. Results Genistein treatment significantly reduced the section percentage of interstitial fibrosis in ligated kidneys at different time after operation (P0.05). The expression of TGF-β 1 mRNA in group G decreased at 5-30 d after UUO. The quantity of TGF-β 1 in rats in group G was lower than that in group C at 5-25 d (P0.05). Conclusion Soybean isoflacone genistein could inhibit the development of renal interstitial fibrosis in the UUO model. The mechanism might be associated with the inhibitory effect of genistein on the expression of TGF-β 1 mRNA.