甘草酸对MRL/lpr小鼠狼疮性肾炎的治疗作用

目的 探讨甘草酸对MRL/lpr小鼠狼疮肾炎是否具有保护作用及其机制.方法 MRL/lpr狼疮小鼠随机分为MRL/lpr组、MRL/lpr+地塞米松(1.5 mg/kg)组,MRL/lpr+甘草酸(20 mg/kg)组,MRL/lpr+甘草酸(40 mg/kg)组,每组10只;野生型正常对照组C57BL/6小鼠10只.采用ELISA法检测各组小鼠血清中尿酸(UA)与肌酐(Cr)含量,各组小鼠血清及肾脏组织中IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α炎症因子水平;采用HE染色法检测肾脏病理改变;采用Western blot技术检测各组小鼠脾脏NLRP3、ASC、Caspase-1、IL-1β、p-NF-κB、NF-κB、p-IκBα、IκBα蛋白的表达.结果 甘草酸能显著降低血清尿酸、肌酐含量;减少血清及肾脏IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α炎症因子表达,改善肾脏病理改变;并能显著抑制NLRP3、ASC、Caspase-1、IL-1β、p-NF-κB、p-IκBα表达.结论 甘草酸对MRL/lpr狼疮小鼠肾脏起到保护作用.

Protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice

Objective To investigate protective effect of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) against lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice and explore its underlying mechanisms. Methods Forty MRL/lpr mice were randomized equally into blank control group, dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg) group, GA (20 mg/kg) group, and GA (40 mg/kg) group with corresponding treatments for 7 days, with 10 wild-type mice as the control group. Serum levels of uric acid and creatinine and inflammatory cytokines in the serum and kidney were tested after the treatments using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The pathological changes in the kidneys were detected using HE staining, and the protein expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, p-NF-κB, NF-κB, p-IκBα, and IκBα were detected with Western blotting. Results GA obviously decreased serum levels of uric acid and creatinine, decreased inflammatory cytokines in the serum and kidney, ameliorated renal pathologies and inhibited the expressions of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1β, p-NF-κB, and p-IκBαproteins in MRL/lpr mice. Conclusion GA has protective effects against lupus nephritis in MRL/lpr mice.