紫草素对NZB／WF1小鼠狼疮性肾炎的疗效及其作用机制

目的探讨紫草素对NZB／WF1狼疮样小鼠的疗效及作用机制。方法将60只28周龄NZB／WF1狼疮样小鼠随机分为赋型剂组和紫草素低剂量组、高剂量组灌胃治疗14周．分别检测各组治疗前、后小鼠的尿蛋白和血。肾功能、抗双链DNA抗体、血清可溶性黏附分子，并观察各组小鼠肾组织病理学改变，同时采用RT—PCR法检测各组肾组织可溶性血管细胞黏附分子（VCAM一1）和可溶性细胞问黏附分子（ICAM一1）mRNA的表达水平。结果紫草素各组小鼠尿蛋白、血肾功能、血清可溶性黏附分子水平、肾组织VCAM一1和ICAM-1mRNA表达水平及肾小球损伤分级均较赋型剂组显著降低（均P〈0．05或0.01）。结论紫草素可减少NZB／WF1狼疮样小鼠尿蛋白水平，并可改善其肾功能和减轻肾脏病理损害，其作用机制可能与调节肾组织VCAM一1和ICAM一1mRNA表达水平有关。

Effects of shikonin on lupus nephritis in NZB/WF1 mice

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a chinese herb medicine gromwell root shikonin on lupus nephritis （LN） in mice. Methods Sixty female NZB/WF1 mice （28-week-old） were randomly divided into three groups.vehicle group, tow dose shikonin group and high dose shikonin group. The animals were orally administered with vehicle or drug according to the protocol for 14 weeks. The changes in proteinuria, anti-dsDNA antibody and circulating adhesion molecule were analyzed, the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA were detected and the pathological changes in the kidney were also examined. Results Compared to the vehicle group, the levels of proteinuria, anti-dsDNA antibody, circulating adhesion molecule and the pathological changes in the kidney at the end of the study were significantly lower in all shikonin treatment groups（ P〈0.05 or 0.01）. Expression of sVCAM-1 and slCAM-1 mRNA in the kidney in shikonin groups was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Shikonin can reduce proteinuria, improve renal function and pathological changes in NZB/W F1 mice, which may be associated with the inhibition of mRNA expression of CAMs in the kidney.