Ginsenoside Rg1 protects against aging-induced renal interstitial fibrosis due to inhibition of tubular epithelial cells endoplasmic reticulum stress in SAMP8 mice

Abstract

Aging has become a primary cause of chronic kidney diseases, which ultimately progress to renal interstitial fibrosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been reported to participate in tubular epithelial cells injury. Ginsenoside Rg1 may have protective effects on kidney aging. In this study, we investigated the tubular interstitial fibrosis and ER stress change in aged mice, and further observed the effects of Rg1 on renal interstitial fibrosis and ER stress in SAMP8 mice. The results demonstrated that the ER stress, apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis were significantly increased in the tubular epithelial cells in 20-month-old (M) and 24M mice. Meanwhile, we found that Rg1 significantly attenuated the tubular epithelial cells ER stress, apoptosis and interstitial fibrosis in SAMP8 mice. This study suggested that ER stress and apoptosis were closely implicated with aging-related renal interstitial fibrosis in aging progression. Rg1 could ameliorate aging-related renal interstitial fibrosis via inhibiting ER stress and apoptosis.

Keywords

• ginsenoside Rg1
• Endoplasmic reticulum stress
• Renal tubular epithelial cells
• Apoptosis
• Renal interstitial fibrosis