Effects of glucocorticoids on the expression of fractalkine and CX3CR1 in kidneys of BXSB mice / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To observe the expression of chemokine fractalkine,and its receptor,CX3CR1,in kidneys of lupus-prone BXSB mice,and their changes after treatment with prednisone. The role of fractalkine and CX3CR1 in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis was also discussed. METHODS:Twelve 12-week-old male BXSB mice were randomly divided into two groups,the prednisone treatment group (BXSB-prednisone group,n=6) and the experimental control group (BXSB group,n=6). Six male C57BL/6J mice at the same weeks of age served as a normal control group (C57BL/6J group). Both the C57BL/6J and the BXSB group of mice received a daily intragastric administration of 0.5 mL normal saline. The BXSB-prednisone group of mice was given a daily intragastric administration of prednisone (0.18 mg/20 g BW) dissolved in 0.5 mL normal saline. All treatments lasted for 10 weeks. The mRNA and protein expressions of fractalkine and CX3CR1 in kidneys of mice were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting analysis respectively. The changes of laboratory index and the kidney histopathology of mice were also investigated. RESULTS:The mRNA and protein expressions of fractalkine and CX3CR1 in kidneys of BXSB mice were significantly higher than those in C57BL/6J mice. The expressions of fractalkine and CX3CR1 in BXSB-prednisone group of mice were much lower than those in BXSB group of mice,accompanied by the lower serum IgG,IgM and anti-dsDNA antibody levels as well as blood urea nitrogen,serum creatinine and urine protein. The glomerular immune complex deposition and the kidney histopathology were also significantly improved in BXSB-prednisone group of mice. CONCLUSION:These results indicate that fractalkine and CX3CR1 participate in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis in BXSB mice,and the effect of glucocorticoids treatment may be attributed,in part,to its ability to inhibit the expression of fractalkine in kidney.