Abstract
BackgroundWhile the most common pharmacological treatments for autoimmune renal pathologies are well studied, herbal remedies are often overlooked. In this study, the effect of the herbal treatment Canephron® N (CAN) in a rat model of active Heymann’s autoimmune glomerulonephritis (AIG) was investigated.MethodsForty BDIX male conventional rats and six female rats were divided into the following groups: healthy animals, AIG, AIG treated with CAN, AIG treated with prednisolone, AIG treated with prednisolone and CAN.ResultsPrednisolone or CAN monotherapy comprises various positive pharmacological effects.Rats receiving prednisolone showed moderate increase in CD4+ lymphocyte count, increase in CD8+ cytotoxic lymphocyte count but incomplete normalization of CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte ratio. It reduced the total count of lymphocytes. Concentration of immune complexes and cryoglobulin level decreased considerably. Prednisolone monotherapy ensured moderate reduction in nephrotic syndrome parameters.CAN monotherapy did not affect immunological parameters and CD4+/CD8+ subpopulation ratio but reduced the level of immune complexes significantly compared to AIG. The main nephroprotective effects of the drug were normalization of diuresis and glomerular filtration rate. Significant reduction of leukocyturia was observed compared to AIG group.The most positive effects were observed in the combined Prednisolone + CAN group. Along with positive immunological shifts in cell-bound and humoral links of immunity (prednisolone effects), renal function improved significantly: proteinuria decreased, blood creatinine and urea decreased, AOPP and PCO levels also decreased (combined effects of CAN). Qualitative differences suggest synergistic effects of complex therapy with glucocorticoid immunosuppressor and the herbal medical drug.ConclusionsThe AIG model used in this study corresponds to human membranous glomerulonephritis in terms of clinical morphology. Prednisolone monotherapy demonstrated adequate efficacy regarding immune and metabolic components of renal disease.The herbal monotherapy was shown to partially normalize urodynamics.Combining CAN with the immunosuppressant prednisolone promotes more positive pharmacodynamic effects on the immune and renal systems of rats.The combined treatment may be useful in clinical nephrology practice including patients with kidney autoimmune diseases and should be investigated further.
Highlights
While the most common pharmacological treatments for autoimmune renal pathologies are well studied, herbal remedies are often overlooked
At the age of 3 months rats of the f 1 generation were immunized by two intraperitoneal administration of maternal renal antigen (10 mg/200 g body weight) with a 14-day interval. 28 days after the second immunization severity of proteinuria was assessed and rats were divided into the following groups: healthy animals not receiving immunization (Healthy n = 8), pathology control (AIG, n = 8), prednisolone therapy (Prednisolone, n = 8), Canephron® N (CAN) treatment (CAN, n = 8), prednisolone + CAN treatment (Prednisolone + CAN, n = 8)
The autoimmune glomerulonephritis (AIG) model was characterized by the accumulation of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and carbonyl protein groups in blood, confirming the development of chronic renal pathology in rats
Summary
While the most common pharmacological treatments for autoimmune renal pathologies are well studied, herbal remedies are often overlooked. Preclinical and clinical nephrological studies focus on three subjects: 1) improvement of renal failure diagnostics [1, 2], 2) development of effective dialysis devices and detoxification regimens [3], 3) search for novel medical products for prevention and conservative treatment of renal pathologies of various geneses [4]. Autoimmune renal pathology, both in animal models and in humans, is associated with autoantibody-induced destruction of nephron structures, deposition of immune complexes, and migration of leukocytes to renal tissues [5, 6]. The evidentiary basis, preclinical as well as clinical, of treating renal diseases with phytotherapy remains still insufficient
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