Quercetin suppresses glomerulosclerosis and TGF-β signaling in a rat model

The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) signaling pathway is an important regulatory pathway in renal fibrosis and is abnormally activated in glomerulosclerosis. Quercetin is a common Chinese herbal medicine and has been reported to inhibit TGF-beta signaling pathway activation. In the present study a glomerulosclerosis rat model was constructed and mice were treated with different concentrations of quercetin. Biochemical parameters, pathological indices and expression levels of TGF-beta signaling pathway-associated proteins were detected using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. It was demonstrated that quercetin significantly improved physiological indices and altered the expression levels of TGF-beta signaling pathway-associated proteins in rats with glomerulosclerosis. In conclusion, quercetin can regulate the TGF-beta signaling pathway and reduce the progression of glomerulosclerosis.