Isoliensinine Attenuates Renal Fibrosis and Inhibits TGF-β1/Smad2/3 Signaling Pathway in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Mengying Yao,1– 3,* Dawei Lian,1– 3,* Meizhu Wu,1– 3 Yuting Zhou,1– 3 Yi Fang,1– 4 Siyu Zhang,1– 3 Wenqiang Zhang,1– 3 Yanyan Yang,1– 4 Renfeng Li,1– 3 Hong Chen,1– 3 Youqin Chen,5 Aling Shen,1– 4 Jun Peng1– 3 1Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 2Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 3Fujian Collaborative Innovation Center for Integrative Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Major Chronic Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 4Innovation and Transformation Center, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, Fujian, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Aling Shen; Jun Peng, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 18050286255 ; +86 15806070011, Email saling86@hotmail.com; pjunlab@hotmail.comPurpose: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of isoliensinine, a kind of bibenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid which isolated from a TCM named Lotus Plumule (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn), in treating renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) by using RNA sequencing, KEGG analysis and in vivo experimental approaches.Methods: Spontaneous hypertension rats (SHRs) were randomly assigned into five groups, consisting of SHR, SHR+Isoliensinine-L (2.5 mg/kg/day), SHR+Isoliensinine-M (5 mg/kg/day), SHR+Isoliensinine-H (10 mg/kg/day), and SHR+Valsartan (10 mg/kg/day) groups (n = 6 for each group). A control group of Wistar Kyoto rats (n = 6) was also included. Rats were treated intragastrically with isoliensinine, valsartan, o