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Sophocarpine attenuates murine lupus nephritis via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB activation

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Abstract

Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN), which is the most serious complication that increases mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sophocarpine is a type of quinolizidine alkaloid that possesses anti-inflammatory property. This study investigated the speculation that sophocarpine might play a beneficial effect in LN. Female MRL/lpr mice received sophocarpine treatment for 8 weeks. Renal function and histopathology were evaluated. The level of immune complex deposition was measured by immunofluorescent staining, and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) and anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibodies were measured by ELISA. Western blotting was carried out to evaluate the levels of proteins involved in NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway. Sophocarpine treatment reduced urine protein excretion, blood urea nitrogen, and attenuated renal tissue damage. The levels of renal immune complex deposition, serum anti-dsDNA, and serum and renal inflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced by sophocarpine. Sophocarpine treatment reduced the levels of proteins that form NLRP3 inflammasome. Activation of NF-κB in the kidney was inhibited by sophocarpine. Sophocarpine could ameliorate experimental LN in MRL/lpr. These effects might be through suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB pathway.

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Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the fund of National Science Foundation of China (81700585).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology, Liaocheng People’s Hospital, No. 67 West Dongchang Road, Liaocheng, 252000, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuzhen Li, Mengjun Wang, Hong Hong, Zewei Liu & Ruiheng Yang

  2. Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 16 Jiangsu Road, Qingdao, 256603, Shandong, People’s Republic of China

    Congjuan Luo

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  1. Xiuzhen Li
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  2. Mengjun Wang
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  3. Hong Hong
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  4. Congjuan Luo
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  5. Zewei Liu
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  6. Ruiheng Yang
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Correspondence to Mengjun Wang.

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Li, X., Wang, M., Hong, H. et al. Sophocarpine attenuates murine lupus nephritis via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome and NF-κB activation. Immunol Res 66, 521–527 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-018-9012-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-018-9012-9

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