title: The effect of hydroxychloroquine on lupus erythematosus-like skin lesions in MRL/lpr mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect and safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on lupus erythematosus (LE)-like skin lesions in the MRL/lpr mouse, a model for systemic LE (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  We divided the MRL/lpr mice into three groups that were given: (1) drinking water, (2) HCQ at a dose of 4 mg/kg/d, or (3) HCQ at a dose of 40 mg/kg/d. The HCQ was administered to examine the effect and safety of HCQ on skin lesions and the number of infiltrating cells including mast cells in the dermis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six of 13 mice in the group given drinking water, 3 of 11 mice in the group administered low-dose HCQ (4 mg/kg/d), and 1 of 10 mice in the group administered high-dose HCQ (40 mg/kg/d) presented the skin lesions. The average number of mast cells was 81, 50, and 12 (magnification, ×100), the mortality rate was 24%, 8%, and 9% and the mean body weight gain was 4.6 g, 8.0 g and 5.1 g, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCQ was demonstrated to decrease the appearance of LE-like lesions and the number of mast cells in the dermis. Furthermore, there were no obvious systemic adverse effects. This study provides evidence that suggests benefits in human patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .|b Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Rosai Hospital , Wakayama , Japan , and.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimomatsu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mikita
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Hong-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inaba
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Takaharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.affiliation: c Department of Forensic Medicine , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan.
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Wakayama Medical University , Wakayama , Japan .
authors.forename: Fukumi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Furukawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008178:Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D019463:Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006886:Hydroxychloroquine
keywords: Hydroxychloroquine; MRL/Lpr mice; Mast Cell; Skin lesion; Systemic lupus erythematosus