OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of using artemisinin (Art) combined with glucocorticoid (GC) to treat lupus nephritis (LN) mice.

METHODSForty hybrid female mice were randomly and equally divided into four groups with the method of random number table: control group, model group, prednisone group administrated with 6.45 mg/(kg·d) prednisone suspension, and Art+prednisone group administrated with 150 mg/(kg·d) Art suspension and 3.225 mg/(kg·d) prednisone suspension. A mice model of LN was established by injection with living lymph cell suspension. The changes of urine protein/24h, the expressions of GC receptor α (GRα) mRNA, GC receptor β (GRβ) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and transcriptional coactivator P300/CBP protein in renal tissue were measured.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the treatment groups had significant decrease in urine protein/24 h, and renal pathological lesion (P<0.01). In the same groups, the expression of transcriptional coactivator P300/CBP protein in renal tissue and GRα mRNA were significantly increased, and GRβ mRNA expression was significantly decreased (P<0.01). And the Art+prednisone group has a better therapeutic effect than the prednisone group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSArt has therapeutic sensitization effects on GC in the LN mice. The underlying mechanism could be correlated with the effect of Art on the increase of the expressions of GRα mRNA and transcriptional coactivator P300 300/CBP protein in renal tissue and on the decrease of the expression of GRβ mRNA in PBMC.