ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of nano-realgar in treatment of systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) lupus nephritis (LN). Intragastric administration of equal volume of high-, middle-, low-dose nano-realgar suspension, and normal saline (NS) were given to MRL/lpr mice, respectively. The observations were made on levels of ANA, ds-DNA antibody, IgG and IgM in blood serum, as well as TWEAK, NF-κB, MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression levels in renal tissues. The results showed that compared with the NS group, levels of ANA, ds-DNA antibody, IgG and IgM were obviously reduced (P < 0.05); the levels of TWEAK, NF-κB and MCP-1 mRNA were obviously reduced (P < 0.05); the protein expression levels of TWEAK, NF-κB and MCP-1 mRNA were obviously reduced (P < 0.05) in the high-, middle-, low-dose nano-realgar group. It was concluded that nano-realgar intervened the TWEAK-NF-κB signal pathway through downregulating MCP-1 expression among MRL/lpr mice, in order to reduce the levels of ANA, ds-DNA antibody, IgG and IgM for relieving autoimmune damages in the treatment of SLE (LN).