Poricoic acid A suppresses TGF-β1-induced renal fibrosis and proliferation via the PDGF-C, Smad3 and MAPK pathways.

Renal interstitial fibrosis is the most important pathological process in chronic renal failure. Previous studies have shown that poricoic acid A (PAA), the main chemical constituent on the surface layer of the mushroom Poria cocos, has protective effects against oxidative stress and acute kidney injury. The present study aimed to investigate the potential roles of PAA on the pathological process of renal fibrosis and the associated molecular mechanism. The NRK-49F cell line was treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) with or without PAA or platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGF-C). Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, western blotting and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine immunofluorescence staining were performed to examine cell growth, protein expression and cell proliferation, respectively. Data from the present study showed that 10 µM PAA attenuated TGF-β1-induced NRK-49F cell extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation, fibrosis formation and proliferation. Renal fibrosis with the activation of Smad3 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways were also inhibited by PAA treatment. PDGF-C reversed the inhibitory effects of PAA on TGF-β1-induced renal fibroblast proliferation and activation of the Smad3/MAPK pathway. The present study suggested that suppression of TGF-β1-induced renal fibroblast ECM accumulation, fibrosis formation and proliferation by PAA is mediated via the inhibition of the PDGF-C, Smad3 and MAPK pathways. The present findings not only revealed the potential anti-fibrotic effects of PAA on renal fibroblasts, but also provided a new insight into the prevention of fibrosis formation via regulation of the PDGF-C, Smad3 and MAPK signaling pathways.