Effects of artesunate on interstitial pneumonia and submaxillaritis in MRL/lpr mice / 国际中医中药杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of artesunate (ART) on interstitial pneumonia and sialadenitis in MRL/lpr mice.Methods A total of 18 MRL/lpr mice were randomly allocated to a hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) group,a ART group and a control group.At the age of 18 weeks,the mice in the HCQ group and ART group were given HCQ 150 mg/kg daily and ART 50 mg/kg daily for 12 weeks,respectively.The histopathological changes of pneumonitis and submaxillaritis were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.The levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in the serum and urine were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results At the age of 30 weeks,the index of peribronchiolar lesion (1.62 ± 0.19,1.52 ± 0.30 vs.1.95 ± 0.34;all P＜0.05),the index of perivascular lesion (1.23 ± 0.18,1.28 ± 0.12 vs.1.57 ± 0.33;all P＜0.05),the alveolar lesions index (1.35 ± 0.16,1.05 ± 0.15 vs.1.72 ± 0.34;all P＜0.05) and the submaxillaritis index (1.48 ± 0.22,1.43 ± 0.15 vs.1.84 ± 0.34;all P＜0.05) in the HCQ group and the ART group were significantly decreased than those in the control group.The MCP-1 levels in the serum (1 103.02 ± 185.56 pg/ml,1 072.37 ± 242.43 pg/ml vs.1 490.67 ± 329.43 pg/ml;all P＜0.05) and urine (189.16 ± 70.85 pg/ml,198.79 ± 113.47 pg/ml vs.446.79 ± 192.31 pg/ml;all P＜0.05) in the HCQ group and the ART group were significantly lower than those in the control group.Conclusion ART can decrease the MCP-1 level,and ameliorate interstitial pneumonitis and sialadenitis in MRL/lpr mice.