Abstract:

Using microRNA （miRNA） high-throughput sequencing technology，this study investigatedthe effects of Qiteng Xiaozhuo granules （QTXZG） on miRNA expression in the glomerular tissue of rats with chronic glomerulonephritis （CGN）. Sprague Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into three groups： the control group，the model group，and the group receiving QTXZG（n=3）. A CGN model was preparedvia intravenous injection of adriamycin into the tail，followed by 30 days of QTXZG administration via oral gavage.The histopathological effects on rat glomerular tissue were assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining（HE），and miRNA sequencing was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs. Subsequent Gene ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses were used to predict related mRNAs. HE staining showed that the model group had a thicker glomerular basement membrane and increased inflammatory cell infiltration compared with those in the control group，both of which were significantly improved after undergoing QTXZG treatment. miRNA sequencing revealed 28 differentially expressed miRNAs in the model group compared with the control group，whereas the QTXZG group had 28 differentially expressed miRNAs compared with the model group. A total of 12 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified across the three groups，and after predicting their mRNAs，eight core mRNAs were identified. GO analysis highlighted the negative regulation of dendritic spine maintenance and enrichment in glutamate-gated calcium ion channel activity，whereas KEGG analysis indicated the involvement of the Rap1，cAMP，and RAS signaling pathways. qRT-PCR results confirmed that miRNA expression levels in rat glomerular tissue across the three groups were consistent with the trends observed in the sequencing results. QTXZG regulates the expression of miRNAs，which may，in turn，affect the Rap1，cAMP，and RAS signaling pathways，thus playing a potential role in CGN prevention and treatment.

Key words: Qiteng Xiaozhuo granules, chronic glomerulonephritis, miRNA, high-throughput sequencing technology