Effect and mechanisms of combined immunosuppressive agents sequential therapy in murine models of chronic graft-versus-host disease / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo explore the effects and possible mechanisms of VCR combined with low dose cyclophosphamide(CTX) intermittently to treat severe systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).It is assumed that this might be a new combination therapy for SLE and expected to improve the overall prognosis and outcome of SLE.MethodsMurine chronic graft-versus-host disease(cGVHD) model were developed for study.They were randomly divided into the control group,vincristine (VCR) pulse therapy group,CTX pulse therapy group,CTX every other day(EOD) group,VCR+CTX combination group.One way ANOVA and repeated measure variance analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results① Six weeks after cGVHD models were set up,the average 24-hour urine protein quantification was(5.02±0.88) mg,anti-dsDNA antibody was positive,and Ⅳ LN pathology could be observed histologically in the model murine.So cGVHD models were successfully developed.② Significantly difference in decreasing of 24-hour urine protein quantification was found in the CTX EOD group,VCR+CTX combination group and other groups (P＜0.01).Significant decrease in Cr,ALT,anti-dsDNA,was found in the CTX EOD group,VCR+CTX combination group,CTX pulse therapy group and other groups(P＜0.05).Decrease in urine MCP-1 and TGF-β1 could be detected,and statistical significant difference in these parameters could be found in the CTX EOD group,CTX pulse therapy group,VCR+CTX combination group and other groups (P＜0.01).MCP-1 and TGF-β1'expression in model kidney were reduced in the CTX EOD group,VCR+CTX combination group and had statistical significant difference in the CTX EOD group,VCR+CTX combination group,VCR pulse therapy group,and CTX pulse therapy group.③ VCRand CTX combination treatment was effectivein 24-hour urine protein quantification,blood Cr,ALT,anti-dsDNA and urine MCP-1,as well as urine TGF-β1 (P＜0.05).Conclusion ① The combination of VCR and CTX is synergistic in decreasing 24-hour urine protein quantification,Cr,and the expression of MCP-1,TGF-β1.② The adverse effect of VCR+CTX combination group is similar to VCR pulse therapy group and CTX pulse therapy group.