The effect of hydroxychloroquine treatment on MRL/lpr lupus mice

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the MRL/lpr mice. Methods MRL/lpr mice were divided into HCQ, the artesunate (ART) and proteinuria was detected with Coomassi Brilliant blue method. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the anti-doubM-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibody. Renal tissue sections were dyed By PAS methods. The percentage of CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes were detected by flow 2.0) mg groups were decreased than in the control group (4.8±3.2) mg (P<0.05). And it was also lower in the HCQ (2.8±1.1) mg and ART (2.4±1.9) mg group than in the control group (6.4±1.9) mg (P<0.01) at 30 in the control group (37.1±1.0) g (P<0.01), while serum creatinine decreased significantly (7.8±4.0) μmol/L than in the control group (12.5±2.3) μmol/L (P<0.05), and the serum anti ds-DNA antibodies levels (3047±renal damage in the HCQ group and in the ART group was Both significantly improved than that in the entages of CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells in spleen when compared with the control group (1.5±0.5)% (P<0.05). The mice in the HCQ group (0.68±0.33)% and in the ART group (0.97±0.28)% had higher percentages of CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells in lymph nodes as compared with control group (2.15±0.72)%(P<0.01). Conclusion HCQ is effective in treating MRL/lpr lupus mice. It can improve the pathologic lesions of lupus nephritis, reduce proteinuria and antibody production. Both HCQ and ART can up-regulate the percentage of CD4+ Foxp3+ T cells in spleen of MRL/lpr mice.