Objective: To study the effect of Shenkang injection (SKI) on the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta mRNA of LLC-PK1 renal tubular epithelial cells.
Methods: Using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern Blot to observe the effect of SKI on the TGF-beta mRNA of LLC-PK1 renal tubular epithelial cells, with control group treated with the injection of Rheum officinale extraction.
Results: SKI showed the inhibition of TGF-beta mRNA expression of renal tubular epithelial cells, which is dose-dependent and was more obvious than that of the Rheum extractive injection with equal dose of drug.
Conclusion: The mechanism of delaying chronic renal failure with SKI is achieved by down regulating TGF-beta mRNA expression of renal tubular cells.