title: The pentapeptide PLNPK inhibits systemic lupus erythematosus-associated renal damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to observe the therapeutic effect of pentapeptide PLNPK on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in mice, and to study the inhibitory effect of PLNPK on activation of T cells in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine SLE-like chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) was induced. After treatment with PLNPK (100, 200, 400 μg/kg per day) for 70 days, serum blood urea nitrogen, creatine, total cholesterol, triglyceride and albumin were tested, and serum levels of anti-dsDNA and anti-histone antibodies were detected by ELISA. The pathological damage and IgG deposition in the kidney were identified. Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced T lymphocyte proliferation in SLE mice was also tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PLNPK can reduce serum blood urea nitrogen, creatine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and elevate serum albumin, and reduce levels of anti-dsDNA and anti-histone antibodies in the murine SLE model. Pathological damage and IgG deposition in the kidney were reduced in the PLNPK-treated group. PLNPK inhibited T lymphocyte infiltration in kidney tissues and ConA-induced T lymphocyte proliferation in SLE mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that PLNPK can suppress T cell function and reduce the production of autoantibodies, and may be a feasible and effective therapy in the SLE model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University, 22 Qixiangtai Road, Tianjin, 300070, China.
authors.forename: Jun-qiang
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jin-wei
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Li-juan
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Chun-lei
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D009842:Oligopeptides