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 A771726—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 (PMΦ) in AA rats. A771726—the active product of Lef(0.1，0.5，2.5，12.5，25，100 μmol*L-1) could inhibit Con A-induced Th cells but has no effect in Con A-induced Ts 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.