title: Inhibiting Notch-1 reduces the expression of Toll-like receptor 9 in BABL/C-lpr mouse kidneys and improves glucocorticoid sensitivity.
abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by the development of a pathogenic autoantibodies. Lupus nephritis is a major cause of mortality in patients with SLE. Glucocorticoids are used for the treatment of lupus, however, corticosteroids have no effect on the expression of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), which may limit response to corticosteroids in certain patients with SLR. The expression of TLR9 can be used as a predictor of glucocorticoid response in patients with active SLE. The present study analyzed urine proteins and pathological kidney sections of BABL/C-lpr mice and found that, following the inhibition of Notch1, glucocorticoid treatment improved the symptoms of lupus nephritis. Furthermore, glucocorticoid treatment reduced the expression of TLR9 in the BABL/C-lpr mouse kidneys, according to immunohistochemical and western blot analyses. These results suggested that inhibition of the expression of Notch-1 enhanced corticosteroid sensitivity in BABL/C-lpr mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wangbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Chunhu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shiyao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zuo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D051881:Receptor, Notch1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; C497762:Notch1 protein, mouse; D051881:Receptor, Notch1; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9