Effects of methylprednisolone on the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in kidneys of BXSB mice / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate whether monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mediates lupus nephritis (LN) in BXSB mice and whether methylprednisolone ameliorates LN by inhibiting MCP-1 expression. Methods 18-week-old male BXSB mice (n=6) displaying clinical symptoms of glomerulonephritis were treated (i.p.) for 3 weeks with MPS (25 mg?kg-1?d-1) dissolved in N.S. BXSB controls were age-and sex-matched BXSB mice (n=6) that received N.S. alone. Age- and sex-matched BALB/C mice (n=6) were used as normal controls that were treated in the same way as the BXSB controls. MCP-1 expression was investigated by RT-PCR and immunohistochemical examination. The heaviness of proteinuria was also evaluated. Medical imaging analysis was performed to detect the relationship between MCP-1 expression and proteinuria. Results MCP-1 was strongly expressed in kidneys of all BXSB mice, stronger staining was found in cytoplasm of tubular epithelial cells than glomerular, while no expression was found in kidneys of BALB/C mice. MCP-1 expression in tubular cells in BXSB control group was closely correlated with proteinuria. MPS significantly reduced proteinuria and MCP-1 expression and down-regulation of MCP-1 expression in tubular cells was also closely correlated with that of proteinuria. Conclusion MCP-1 over-expression may mediate LN in BXSB. MPS ameliorates LN partially by inhibiting MCP-1 expression.