Therapeutic action of leflunomide on adjuvant arthritis rats and its mechanism / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

AIM To study the therapeutic action of leflunomide(Lef) on adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats and its mechanisms. METHODS To observe the change of secondary inflammation,immune function on adjuvant arthritis(AA) rats treated with Lef and to detect the effect of A 771726 —the active product of Lef on T cell subgroup in mice in vitro .RESULTS Lef(2,6,18 mg?kg -1 ?12 d) intragastric injection(ig) could signifcantly inhibit secondary reaction (secondary inflammatory swelling、 multiple arthritis) of AA rats.Lef couldnt effect the lowed response of Con A induced splenolytes, and the decreased IL 2 synthesis in AA rats. But lef(2,6,18 mg?kg -1 ) could inhibit the elevated IL 1 released from peritoneal macrophage (PM?) in AA rats. A 771726 —the active product of Lef(0 1,0 5,2 5,12 5,25,100 ?mol?L -1 ) could inhibit Con A induced T h cells but has no effect in Con A induced T s cells in vitro .CONCLUSION Lef has therapeutic action on AA rats which could be related to its immunosuppressory activities——mainly through inhibit cell mediated immunity.