Abstract: Objective To investigate the effects and the mechanism of Astragalus injection regulating immune cells and Inflammatory factors in db/db mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were set as the control group, db/db mice were randomLy divided into diabetic group and astragalus-treated group. The mice of control group and diabetic group were intraperitoneally injected with PBS 100 μL, and the mice of astragalus-treated group were intraperitoneally injected with astragalus mongholicus 100 μL, every day for 12 weeks. Twelve weeks later, blood glucose and the counting and classification of leukocytes of the peripheral blood were detected. The expression of interleukin-10(IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)was detected by ELISA in cell culture supernatant. The mRNA expression of interleukin-1β(IL-1β), TNF-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) in mouse kidney was detected by real-time PCR. The percent of regulatory T cells(Tregs) was detected by flow cetometry. Results Blood glucose in diabetic group is higher than that in control group. There is no significant difference between astragalus-treated group and diabetic group. The counting leukocytes and the percentage of neutrophils and mmonocyte in diabetic group obviously were improved, and that in astragalus-treated group were decreased obviously. IL-10 in the serum in diabetic group was obviously lower than that in control group. However, IL-10 in astragalus-treated group was significantly higher than that in diabetic group. TNF-α in the serum in diabetic group was obviously higher than that in control group, and that in astragalus-treated group was significantly lower. mRNA expression of renal inflammatory factors in mice showed that the mRNA expression of IL-1β, MCP-1 and TNF-α in the diabetes group was significantly higher than that in the control group, and that in the astragalus-treated group was significantly lower than that in the diabetes group. The quantity of Tregs in diabetic group was improved, and that in astragalus-treated group was significantly higher. Conclusions Astragalus injection can reduce the number of inflammatory cells in db/db mice, increase the number of Tregs, reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory factors IL-1β, MCP-1 and TNF-α delay the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy.

Key words: Astragalus injection, Diabetic nephropathy, Inflammatory reaction, Inflammatory factor