title: [Therapeutic effect of total glucosides of paeony on lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the therapeutic effect of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) on lupus nephritis (LN) in MRL/lpr mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis were randomized into model group and TGP group. The urinary protein content was detected using Coomassie brilliant blue, and the serum levels of IgG anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes in the renal pathology were examined microscopically, and the spleen and thymus were weighed to calculate the spleen and thymus indexes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 15 and 30 days after TGP administration, the urinary protein content in the TGP group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.05). TGP treatment significantly lowered the serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA and the weight and index of spleen (P<0.05), resulting also in lessened renal pathology at 30 days after the administration. Compared to those before TGP treatment, the urinary protein content and the levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA decreased significantly at 15 and 30 days after TGP administration (P<0.05), while in the model group, the level of anti-dsDNA increased significantly without obvious changes in urinary protein content or ANA. At 30 days after TGP administration, the urinary protein content was significantly lowered in the TGP group as compared to that at 15 days (P<0.05), but the antibodies showed no significant changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TGP can reduce urinary protein content and serum levels of anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA, and lessen renal pathology in MRL/lpr mice with lupus nephritis, suggesting its therapeutic effect on lupus nephritis.
authors.affiliation: College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. dzx0424@126.com
authors.forename: Zhao-Xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Shao-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qi-Fu
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu-Yao
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Hong-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jie
authors.forename: Jing-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Fan-Sheng
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D005960:Glucosides; D004247:DNA