Effect of cyclophosphamide on fungal infection in SLE mice detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the effect of the cyclophosphamide (CTX) on systemic lupus erythematosus mice by fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Methods: (BALB/c × C57BL/J6) F1 hybrid mice were used as recipients of donor lymphocytes which were injected intravenously. Mice were randomly divided into control group and treatment group, serum autoantibody and urinary protein were measured, renal pathological changes and the situation of fungal infection were observed. Results: The reduced urinary protein, ameliorated renal lesions were found in the CTX-treated mice. Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus were detected respectively in respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract. Conclusions: CTX can alleviate lupus nephritis and the fluorescent quantitative PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for the detection of fungal infection.