Effect and molecular mechanism of arsenic trioxide on neurokinin A in lungs of BXSB lupus mice / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of different concentrations of arsenic trioxide (As2O3,ATO) on neurokinin A (NKA) in renal tissue of BXSB mice and explore its clinical value.Methods Fifty BXSB mice (twelve weeks old and weighted 23～26 g) were randomly divided into control group,systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) group,and therapeutic group of three different concentrations of ATO.All biochemical indicators were analyzed before and after treatment.The pathology of renal tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry.The concentration of NKA in renal tissues was detected by ELISA and the concentration of NKA mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.Results The concentration of NKA in SLE group in renal tissue (299±26) pg/g was significantly higher than that of normal control group (122±7) pg/g (P＜0.05).The concentration of NKA in the SLE group in renal tissue was significantly higher than that of three different concentrations of ATO in low-dose group (151±14) pg/g,moderate--dose group (147±9) pg/g and in highdose group (155±14) pg/g (P＜0.05).No difference was found between three different dosages of ATO treatment groups and normal control groups (P＞0.05).There were no significant differences among three different dosages of ATO treatment group (P＞0.05).The side effects in low-dose group were significantly lower than those of moderate and high-dosage groups (P＜0.05).Conclustion NKA concentration expressed in the renal tissues in the SLE group is higher than that in the control group.Decreasing the concentrations of NKA mRNA in renal tissues may be one of the important mechanisms of ATO in treating SLE.Low-dosage ATO is safe and effective to treat SLE and has therapeutic potentials.