Abstract
T cell immune responses play important roles in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). (S)-Armepavine (C19H23O3N; MW313) from Nelumbo nucifera suppresses T cells proliferation. To study its potential benefit on SLE, we examined effects of (S)-armepavine on MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice, which have similar disease features to human SLE. MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice were treated orally with (S)-armepavine for 6 weeks and their SLE characteristics were evaluated. The results revealed that (S)-armepavine prevented lymphadenopathy and elongated life span of MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice. It seemed to be mediated by inhibition of splenocytes proliferation, suppression of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4, interleukin-10, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene expressions, reduction of glomerular hypercellularity and immune complexes deposition, and decrease of urinary protein and anti-double stranded DNA autoantibody production. Furthermore, the data demonstrated (S)-armepavine impaired IL-2 and IFN-gamma transcripts in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We suggest that (S)-armepavine may be an immunomodulator for the management of autoimmune diseases like SLE.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Alkaloids / isolation & purification
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Alkaloids / pharmacology
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Alkaloids / therapeutic use*
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Animals
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Antibodies, Antinuclear / blood
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Benzylisoquinolines / isolation & purification
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Benzylisoquinolines / pharmacology
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Benzylisoquinolines / therapeutic use*
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects
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Cytokines / genetics
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Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
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Female
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Gene Expression / drug effects
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Humans
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Interferon-gamma / blood
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Interferon-gamma / genetics
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Interleukin-2 / blood
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Interleukin-2 / genetics
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / drug effects
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
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Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy*
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Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
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Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / mortality
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Lymphatic Diseases / prevention & control
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
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Nelumbo / chemistry*
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Phytohemagglutinins / pharmacology
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Phytotherapy
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Proteinuria / prevention & control
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Proteinuria / urine
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Seeds / chemistry
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Spleen / cytology
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Spleen / drug effects
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Spleen / metabolism
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Survival Rate
Substances
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Alkaloids
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Antibodies, Antinuclear
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Benzylisoquinolines
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Cytokines
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Interleukin-2
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Phytohemagglutinins
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RNA, Messenger
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Interferon-gamma
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armepavine