[Effects of artemether and dihydroarteannuin on mouse model of scleroderma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of artemether and dihydroarteannuin on the mouse model of scleroderma.


METHODS
Sixty mice were randomly divided into 8 groups: PBS control group, model group, menstruum group (20% Tween-80, 0.4%CMC-Na), positive medicine group (penicillamine 200 mg kg(-1)), low-dose artemether group (5 mg kg(-1)), high-dose artemether group (20 mg kg(-1)), low-dose dihydroarteannuin group (5 mg kg(-1)), high-dose dihydroarteannuin group (25 mg kg(-1)). We have established a mouse model for scleroderma in Balb/c mice by subcutaneous injections of bleomycin 0.1 mL per day (200 mg L(-1) BLM) for 3 weeks. Meanwhile, the administration lasted for 4 weeks. The back skin was removed in the next day after the final administration. Treated skins and lungs were harvested and analyzed for histological sclerosis. The thickness of the skin and fibrosis degree of derma were observed and made an analysis of the contents of collagen and hydroxyproline.


RESULTS
Compared with the model groups, the high-dose groups markedly inhibited the thickness of derma (P<0.001), furthermore, the contents of collagen and hydroxyproline in the skin were also significantly reduced (P<0.05). Other groups of mice showed improvement on scleroderma.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that administration of artemether or dihydroarteannuin may be an effective approach in preventing systemic sclerosis.
Ma
Jie
J
Department of Pharmacology, Science Health Center of Peking University, Beijing 100083, China.
Chen
Lihua
L
Liao
Rong
R
Xu
Shuguang
S
Li
Min
M
Xu
Donghui
D
Li
Weidong
W
D000818:Animals; D000077549:Artemether; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C513609:dihydroarteannuin; D003094:Collagen; D000077549:Artemether; D006909:Hydroxyproline