Study on the expression of nuclear factor-κB in nephridial tissue and the protective role of glycyrrhizin on adriamycin nephropathy in rats

Objective To observe the effects of glycyrrhizin on nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) expression in kidney tissue of rats with adriamycin nephropathy,and to explore the protective effect s of glycyrrhizin on glomerulosclerosis. Methods Eighteen SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group (n=6),untreated group (n=6) and glycyrrhizin treated group (n=6). Adriamycin nephropathy was induced in rats in the last two groups by intravenous injection of adriamycin. The rats in the glycyrrhizin treated group were fed glycyrrhizin for six weeks,whereas the rats in the normal control group and untreated group were fed normal saline solution for six weeks. The levels of 24h urine protein (Upr),serum creatinine (Cr),urea nitrogen (BUN),albumin (Alb) and cholesterol (Ch) of the rats in each group were examined before and after treatment for six weeks. The renal morphological changes were observed under microscope. The NF-κB activity in renal tissue was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) and the expression level of CTGF in renal tissue was detected by streptavidin biotin peroxidase complex (SABC) method. Results The levels of 24 h Upr after the treatment for eight weeks in the glycyrrhizin treated group were both significantly decreased as compared with those in the untreated group. The pathological morphological changes of renal tissue in the glycyrrhizin treated group were remarkably alleviated ,The NF-κB activity and CTGF level in renal tissue were also decreased in the glycyrrhizin treated group as compared with those in the untreated group. Conclusion The glycyrrhizin can exert certain protective effects on adriamycin nephropathy in rats by inhibiting NF-κB activity so as to retardthe development of glomerulosclerosis.