Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Hui Wang,1,2 Shuang-Shuang Chen,1 Yong-Xian Zhang,2 Hai-Bo Gao,1 Bin Meng,1 Wei-Yu Wu,1 Qun Tang1 1Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, People’s Republic of China; 2The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinan, Shandong, 250000, People’s Repub...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wang H, Chen SS, Zhang YX, Gao HB, Meng B, Wu WY, Tang Q
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2025-07-01
Series:Drug Design, Development and Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/liu-wei-di-huang-decoction-alleviates-renal-fibrosis-by-inhibiting-end-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1839608087422435328
author Wang H
Chen SS
Zhang YX
Gao HB
Meng B
Wu WY
Tang Q
author_facet Wang H
Chen SS
Zhang YX
Gao HB
Meng B
Wu WY
Tang Q
author_sort Wang H
collection DOAJ
description Hui Wang,1,2 Shuang-Shuang Chen,1 Yong-Xian Zhang,2 Hai-Bo Gao,1 Bin Meng,1 Wei-Yu Wu,1 Qun Tang1 1Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, People’s Republic of China; 2The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinan, Shandong, 250000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qun Tang, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, People’s Republic of China, Email tangqun460@126.comBackground: Renal fibrosis (RF) is the final outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can be triggered by various factors. Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (LWDHD) has been clinically established as an effective treatment for CKD, demonstrating anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic effects. However, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of LWDHD remain unknown.Aim: Prediction of key active ingredients, targets, and mechanistic pathways of LWDHD in RF treatment.Materials and Methods: The bioactive components of LWDHD were identified and quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). A network pharmacology approach was employed to predict the key targets of these bioactive components. A rat model of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis was created through unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Rats were divided into six groups: sham operation, UUO, low-dose LWDHD (LW-L), medium-dose LWDHD (LW-M), high-dose LWDHD (LW-H), and enalapril group. Continuous gavage of treatments was administered for 2 weeks. The renal tissues were histopathologically assessed, including HE, Masson’s trichrome, and Sirius red staining, immunohistochemistry, co-staining and Western blot analysis to evaluate the effects of LWDHD on renal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β 1) was employed to stimulate endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in EA.hy926 cells. The inhibitory effect of LWDHD on EndMT was validated through cellular morphology observations, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays.Results: LWDHD showed promise as a therapeutic agent by alleviating renal pathological injury and lowering collagen fiber accumulation. It enhanced Sirt1 expression while inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, LWDHD increased the levels of the endothelial marker CD31 and decreased the expression of fibrosis-associated proteins, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin, thereby mitigating renal fibrosis.Conclusion: LWDHD has the potential to alleviate renal fibrosis, possibly through the upregulation of Sirt1, which inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and thereby reduces EndMT.Keywords: renal fibrosis, LWDHD, network pharmacology, Sirt1, Wnt/β-catenin, EndMT
format Article
id doaj-art-d5a91b15d5a44a5ca915d5ba4b51c7e5
institution Matheson Library
issn 1177-8881
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series Drug Design, Development and Therapy
spelling doaj-art-d5a91b15d5a44a5ca915d5ba4b51c7e52025-07-31T17:30:48ZengDove Medical PressDrug Design, Development and Therapy1177-88812025-07-01Volume 19Issue 165876603105290Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling PathwayWang H0Chen SS1Zhang YX2Gao HBMeng BWu WYTang QMedical schoolMedical schoolOrthopedicsHui Wang,1,2 Shuang-Shuang Chen,1 Yong-Xian Zhang,2 Hai-Bo Gao,1 Bin Meng,1 Wei-Yu Wu,1 Qun Tang1 1Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, People’s Republic of China; 2The 960th Hospital of the PLA Joint Logistics Support Force, Jinan, Shandong, 250000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qun Tang, Medical School, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, People’s Republic of China, Email tangqun460@126.comBackground: Renal fibrosis (RF) is the final outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can be triggered by various factors. Liuwei Dihuang Decoction (LWDHD) has been clinically established as an effective treatment for CKD, demonstrating anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrotic effects. However, the specific molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effectiveness of LWDHD remain unknown.Aim: Prediction of key active ingredients, targets, and mechanistic pathways of LWDHD in RF treatment.Materials and Methods: The bioactive components of LWDHD were identified and quantified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). A network pharmacology approach was employed to predict the key targets of these bioactive components. A rat model of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis was created through unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Rats were divided into six groups: sham operation, UUO, low-dose LWDHD (LW-L), medium-dose LWDHD (LW-M), high-dose LWDHD (LW-H), and enalapril group. Continuous gavage of treatments was administered for 2 weeks. The renal tissues were histopathologically assessed, including HE, Masson’s trichrome, and Sirius red staining, immunohistochemistry, co-staining and Western blot analysis to evaluate the effects of LWDHD on renal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β 1) was employed to stimulate endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in EA.hy926 cells. The inhibitory effect of LWDHD on EndMT was validated through cellular morphology observations, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence assays.Results: LWDHD showed promise as a therapeutic agent by alleviating renal pathological injury and lowering collagen fiber accumulation. It enhanced Sirt1 expression while inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Moreover, LWDHD increased the levels of the endothelial marker CD31 and decreased the expression of fibrosis-associated proteins, such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and vimentin, thereby mitigating renal fibrosis.Conclusion: LWDHD has the potential to alleviate renal fibrosis, possibly through the upregulation of Sirt1, which inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and thereby reduces EndMT.Keywords: renal fibrosis, LWDHD, network pharmacology, Sirt1, Wnt/β-catenin, EndMThttps://www.dovepress.com/liu-wei-di-huang-decoction-alleviates-renal-fibrosis-by-inhibiting-end-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDTrenal fibrosisLWDHDnetwork pharmacologySirt1Wnt/β-cateninEndMT
spellingShingle Wang H
Chen SS
Zhang YX
Gao HB
Meng B
Wu WY
Tang Q
Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Drug Design, Development and Therapy
renal fibrosis
LWDHD
network pharmacology
Sirt1
Wnt/β-catenin
EndMT
title Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
title_full Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
title_fullStr Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
title_full_unstemmed Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
title_short Liu Wei Di Huang Decoction Alleviates Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Endothelial Mesenchymal Transitions via Upregulating Sirt1 Expression and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
title_sort liu wei di huang decoction alleviates renal fibrosis by inhibiting endothelial mesenchymal transitions via upregulating sirt1 expression and inhibiting the wnt amp beta catenin signaling pathway
topic renal fibrosis
LWDHD
network pharmacology
Sirt1
Wnt/β-catenin
EndMT
url https://www.dovepress.com/liu-wei-di-huang-decoction-alleviates-renal-fibrosis-by-inhibiting-end-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-DDDT
work_keys_str_mv AT wangh liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway
AT chenss liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway
AT zhangyx liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway
AT gaohb liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway
AT mengb liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway
AT wuwy liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway
AT tangq liuweidihuangdecoctionalleviatesrenalfibrosisbyinhibitingendothelialmesenchymaltransitionsviaupregulatingsirt1expressionandinhibitingthewntampbetacateninsignalingpathway