Renal protective effects and mechanisms of astragaloside IV

Astragaloside IV( AS-IV) is one of the major active components of the astragalus membranaceus( Fisch) Bge.It was reported that AS-IV ameliorated ischemia-reperfusion injury in brain and heart,however,its renal protective effects and mechnisms have not been fully investigated yet.In this paper,we have reviewed the renal protective effects and the molecular mechanisms of AS-IV.AS-IV improved high glucose-induced podocyte adhesion dysfunction,which was partly attributed to α3β1 integrin upregulation and integrin-linked kinase( ILK) inhibition.As a novel antioxidant,AS-IV also prevented glucose-induced podocyte apoptosis partly through restoring the balance of and B cell lymphoma / leukemia-2( Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein( Bax) expression and inhibiting caspase-3 activation.Moreover,AS-IV prevented ischemic acute kidney injury( AKI) through inhibition of nuclear factor κ-light-chainenhancer of activated B cells( NF-κB) mediated inflammatory genes expression.AS-IV also prevented renal dysfunction,tubular injury,and apoptosis in ischemic and contrast-induced AKI models through restoring the balance of Bax / Bcl-2 expression and inhibiting caspase-3 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase( MAPK) activation.AS-IV restored podocyte morphology and cytoskeleton loss induced by complement membrane attack complex so that AS-IV might be used to treat membranous nephropathy.Therefore,AS-IV might become a new drug for the prevention and treatment of kidney diseases.