OBJECTIVETo classify NZB/W F1 lupus mice into three different constitutions, i. e. the cold, normal, and hot constitutions, and to prove the objective existence of the difference among them.

METHODSUsing the Four Diagnosis Work Station for Mice (founded by Prof. FANG Zhao-qin, the Research Faculty of Experimental Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine), the body weight, the armpit temperature, the heart rate, the 35-s activities, and the color of their tails and claws (r value) were detected. The total weight was calculated according to the formula: The total weight sum = the correction value of claws x 1 + the correction value of tail x 0.2 + the correction value of the armpit temperature x 0.7 + the correction value of heart rate x0. 05 + the number of the quadrant crossing x 0.025. The NZB/W F1 lupus mice were classified into the three different constitutions according to the higher total weight sum, the hotter the constitution, the lower total weight sum, the colder the constitution. The hydroxyproline content, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and transforming growth factor-beta1, (TGF-beta1) gene expression difference in the renal tissue were detected and the immunofluorescence staining observed.

RESULTSAmong the 158 NZB/W F1 lupus mice, 33 mice were classified into the hot constitution, 34 into the cold constitution, and 91 into the normal constitution. The renal hydroxyproline content in mice of normal and cold constitutions were higher than that of mice of the hot constitution (P<0.01). No statistical difference was shown between mice of the normal constitution and mice of the cold constitution. The CTGF gene expression level was significantly higher in mice of the cold constitution and mice of the hot constitution than in mice of the normal constitution (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between mice of the cold constitution and mice of the hot constitution. Lower level of TGF-beta1, expression existed in mice of the cold constitution than in mice of the normal constitution or mice of the hot constitution, showing insignificant difference. The immunofluorescence stain of the renal tissue among the three constitutions also showed some difference.

CONCLUSIONConstitution difference did exist among NZB/W F1 lupus mice.

Animals ; Body Constitution ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NZB ; classification

OBJECTIVETo study the effect and mechanism of Langchuangjing Granule (LCJ) in inhibiting the lupoid change of kidney in lupus-prone mice.

METHODSIntervention therapy was applied to three group of BW female mice of lupus, 3 months in age, for 6-12 weeks with LCJ, prednisone and LCJ + prednisone respectively to observe the dynamic development of disease, changes of CD4+, CD8+ and CD54 expression, and the effect on pathology of renal corpuscles.

RESULTSBoth western and Chinese medicines can partially improve the symptoms and plasma CD4+ and CD8+ distribution, inhibit the increase of serum ICAM-1 content and the high expression of CD54 in surface of lymphocyte of peripheral blood, suppress the atrophy of renal corpuscles and the proliferation of mesangial cell. The optimal effect was showed by the combination of LCJ and prednisone.

CONCLUSIONLCJ could effectively control and improve the genesis and development of lupoid changes in model mice, and regulate the cellular immune function, inhibit the excessive immune reaction, and improve the pathology of lupoid nephritis, it could cooperate with western medicine to give full play of its effective role and show the superiority in treatment.

Animals ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood ; Kidney ; pathology ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Lupus Nephritis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NZB ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation