201. Attenuation of nephritis in lupus-prone mice by thalidomide.
- Author
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Lee SW, Park YB, Yang J, Park KH, Lee SK, Choi KH, and Kim BS
- Subjects
- Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents administration & dosage, Anti-Inflammatory Agents toxicity, Antigen-Antibody Complex metabolism, DNA metabolism, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Drug Therapy, Combination, Female, Glomerulonephritis pathology, Glomerulonephritis prevention & control, Immunoglobulin G metabolism, Immunosuppressive Agents pharmacology, Lupus Nephritis blood, Lupus Nephritis pathology, Mice, Mice, Inbred NZB, Mycophenolic Acid analogs & derivatives, Mycophenolic Acid pharmacology, Prednisolone administration & dosage, Prednisolone pharmacology, Proteinuria prevention & control, Survival Rate, Thalidomide administration & dosage, Thalidomide toxicity, Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology, Lupus Nephritis prevention & control, Thalidomide pharmacology
- Abstract
Objectives: Thalidomide has various effects, such as immune modulation, anti-angiogenicity, anti-inflammation and anti-proliferation. Moreover, thalidomide modulates the activity of NF-κB, which can up-regulate the expression of downstream genes involved in the pathophysiology of LN. Here we investigated the efficacy of thalidomide monotherapy or thalidomide plus prednisolone (PL) on nephritis in NZB/WF1 mice at different doses and compared both with a combination therapy of MMF plus PL., Methods: Forty-three female NZB/WF1 mice were divided into eight groups (untreated; 1.7, 5 or 10 mg/kg of thalidomide alone; 1.7, 5 or 10 mg/kg of thalidomide plus 1.5 mg/kg of PL and 33.3 mg/kg of MMF plus PL). Proteinuria and histological damage were evaluated. Immune complex deposition and nuclear translocation of NF-κB in kidney tissues were assessed by immunofluorescence staining. Serum concentrations of anti-dsDNA and IgG subclasses were also measured., Results: In comparison with untreated mice, mice treated with 10 mg/kg of thalidomide monotherapy showed a significant decrease in proteinuria and significantly lower glomerular and tubular damage scores, comparable to 5 or 10 mg/kg of thalidomide plus PL or MMF plus PL. Also, treatment with 10 mg/kg of thalidomide significantly decreased immune complex accumulation, reduced the serum concentration of anti-dsDNA, IgG2a and IgG2b and inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB in kidney tissues, comparable to standard therapy for LN., Conclusion: These data suggest that thalidomide might play an anti-inflammatory role in the pathophysiology of LN, and it could serve as a complementary therapy to standard induction regimens for refractory LN.
- Published
- 2012
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