The Study of Chinese Medicinal Herbal Formula Shen San Fang in the Treatment of Experimental IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide, yet there is no effective or specific therapy. Shen San Fang (S3F) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal formula that has been used in China for many years to treat patients with hematuria. The aim of this study is to test the therapeutic value of S3F in an experimental model of IgAN. IgAN was induced in Lewis rats by continuous oral immunization with bovine gamma-globulin (BGG) in the drinking water for 8 weeks, followed by intravenous injection of 1 mg BGG daily for 3 successive days. The rats were randomly divided into four groups (five rats/group): control, control receiving S3F, induction of IgAN, and IgAN receiving S3F. S3F decoction was fed to rats beginning week 4 from the first day of oral sensitization with BGG. The S3F treatment was continued until the rats were sacrificed or for a 4-week period. Hematuria, renal immunohistochemistry for IgA and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), renal histopathology, and renal content of TGF-β1 were measured. Rats developing IgAN had marked hematuria, profound mesangial proliferation and mesangial expansion, intense and diffuse glomerular IgA deposition, increased glomerular TGF-β1 expression, and raised renal TGF-β1 levels. S3F treatment resulted in a significant reduction of hematuria, decreased mesangial IgA deposition, weaker immunostaining of TGF-β1 in glomerulus, and a lower renal TGF-β1 concentration. Our animal data suggests a therapeutic value for the Chinese medicinal formula S3F in experimental IgAN. This beneficial effect was due to reduced glomerular IgA deposition and TGF-β1 expression. Our preliminary findings hold promise for future human therapy.