title: A new pentapeptide compound, PLNPK, ameliorates anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis in Wistar rats.
abstract: PLNPK is a pentapeptide compound extracted from pig spleen with a Pro-Leu-Asn-Pro-Lys molecular structure. The spleen is the biggest immune organ in the body, in which there are lots of immunocytes and immune molecules. Our pilot study showed that PLNPK could suppress the transformation and proliferation of T lymphocytes and the production of antibodies in mice. It is widely accepted that most types of glomerulonephritis are immunological diseases caused by the reaction of antigen and antibody. Both humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity contribute to the progress of these diseases, and suppression of immunoreactions and inflammation is important to ameliorate nephritis. After the immunosuppressive effects of this compound were discovered, this study also examined whether PLNPK had beneficial effects on a rat model of glomerulonephritis. The results suggested PLNPK (200microg/kg/d and 400microg/kg/d) reduced urinary protein excretion, lessened the deposit of autoantibodies along the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), reduced formation of crescent and protein casts, and ameliorated glomerular fibrosis and GBM injury. After treatment with PLNPK (200microg/kg/d and 400microg/kg/d) for 7 days, macrophage infiltration in the glomeruli was markedly reduced. Our results suggest that PLNPK has a beneficial effect on rat anti-GBM nephritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China.
authors.forename: Chun-lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jun-qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li-juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui-qiang
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Qiu-li
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D050533:Glomerular Basement Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009393:Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013552:Swine; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010455:Peptides; C533255:prolyl-leucyl-asparagyl-prolyl-lysine