[Study on the regulation of Jiedu Quyu Zishen Recipe on glucocorticoid receptor alpha in the renal tissue of MRL/lpr mice].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the action mechanism of Jiedu Quyu Zishen Recipe (JQZR) on the signal transduction of glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GRalpha) in the renal tissue of MRL/lpr mice.


METHODS
Thirty MRL/lpr mice were randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the model group, the Western medicine group, and the Chinese medicine group, 10 in each. Besides, another 10 Kunming mice was taken as the normal control group. The pathological changes of the renal tissue were observed using HE staining. The expression of GRalpha was analyzed using Real-time PCR and Western blot. The effects of JQZR on the binding power of GRalpha to cyclophilin A were detected using co-immunoprecipitation.


RESULTS
The renal injury degree of MRL/lpr mice in the Western medicine group and the Chinese medicine group was alleviated. Compared with the model group, the relative quantitation of GRalpha mRNA and protein expressions in the renal tissue of mice in the Western medicine group decreased, while they increased in the Chinese medicine group, showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). JQZR could significantly elevate the binding potency of GRalpha to cyclophilin A.


CONCLUSIONS
Up-regulating the expression of GRalpha and enhancing mutual actions of GRalpha and cyclophilin A was one of JQZR's effects on improving the lesion of the renal tissue.
Department of Chinese Medicine Clinical Rheumatology Lab, Zhejiang University of Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou (310053).
Li
L
Xu
Jin-jun
JJ
Ji
Zhi-jun
ZJ
Xie
D000818:Animals; D021984:Cyclophilin A / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; C411470:glucocorticoid receptor alpha; C544738:quyu jiedu; D021984:Cyclophilin A