Sebivo Ameliorated Fibrotic and Inflammatory Changes in Kidney and Heart in Animal Model of Chronic Kidney Disease.

AIM: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains a major global health concern. Current treatments primarily delay disease progression and alleviate complications rather than targeting key mechanisms. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory effects of Sebivo on kidney and heart tissues in a rat CKD model.

METHODS

A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham-operated control, CKD and CKD + Sebivo groups. CKD was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy and rats received no treatment, saline or Sebivo for 12 weeks after surgery. Serum levels of total and free p-cresyl sulphate (PCS), indoxyl sulphate (IS) levels, as well as creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were measured at 8 and 12 weeks following administration. After 12 weeks of treatment, kidney and heart fibrosis were evaluated by histological analysis, while inflammatory and fibrotic markers were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blotting.

RESULTS

Sebivo significantly reduced total serum PCS levels in CKD + Sebivo group compared to CKD group at 12 weeks (4.17 ± 0.99 vs. 8.78 ± 0.01 μg/L, p < 0.001). Heart fibrosis was significantly reduced in CKD + Sebivo group compared to CKD group (22.44% ± 6.82% vs. 34.90% ± 1.47%, p < 0.05), with a similar trend observed in the kidney. Sebivo improved renal function as indicated by decreased BUN and creatinine levels. Additionally, TGF-β1 mRNA and the protein levels of IL-6, TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and COL1A1 were significantly decreased in the kidney following Sebivo treatment.

CONCLUSION

Sebivo demonstrated potential to improve renal fibrosis and function, likely through modulating fibrotic and inflammatory pathways, suggesting Sebivo as a novel therapeutic treatment for CKD.