Thymosin β4 alleviates renal fibrosis and tubular cell apoptosis through TGF-β pathway inhibition in UUO rat models

摘要

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is closely associated with the cytoskeleton, inflammation, wound healing, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and myocardial regeneration, but the effects of Tβ4 treatment on chronic renal tubular interstitial fibrosis (CRTIF) are poorly known. This study aimed to examine the effects of Tβ4 on the renal apoptosis and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-β), E-cadherin, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in CRTIF rat models. Male SD rats were randomized into four groups (sham group, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) group, UUO?+?low-dose Tβ4 group, and UUO?+?high-dose Tβ4 group). The pathological changes of kidney tissue and its function were assessed two weeks after UUO. In renal interstitial tissue,TGF-β, E-cadherin and α-SMA expression was detected by western blot. In tubular epithelial cells, E-cadherin and α-SMA expression was detected using Real-time qPCR and western blot. Cell apoptosis of rat renal interstitial tissue and tubular epithelial cells was evaluated by immunofluorescence and western blot. Two weeks after UUO, no differences in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were observed between the four groups (P?>?0.05). Compared to the UUO group, Tβ4 treatment decreased the 24-h proteinuria (P?