Tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide ameliorates lupus syndromes by inhibiting IL-17 producing double negative T cells
Yan Zhao
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorZhanglei Mu
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorLin Cai
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXiaojing Liu
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorJun Jia
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jianzhong Zhang
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Jianzhong Zhang, Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, No. 11 South Avenue, Xi Zhi Men, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorYan Zhao
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorZhanglei Mu
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorLin Cai
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorXiaojing Liu
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorJun Jia
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Jianzhong Zhang
Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, Beijing, China
Correspondence
Jianzhong Zhang, Department of Dermatology, People's Hospital of Peking University, No. 11 South Avenue, Xi Zhi Men, Xicheng District, Beijing 100044, China.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorFunding information National Natural Science Foundation of China , Grant/Award Number: No.81271756
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of uncertain etiology that affects multiple tissues and organs. Tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide (As4S4), a traditional Chinese medicine, is effective on acute promyelocytic leukemia with mild side effects. In our previous study, BXSB lupus-prone mice treated with As4S4 has showed improved monocytosis, decreased serum interleukin (IL)-6 and suppressed skin, liver and renal lesions with well-tolerance. In this study, we explored the effect and mechanism of As4S4 on the MRL/lpr mice. MRL/lpr and wild MRL/MpJ mice were divided into control and As4S4 treatment groups and dosed with As4S4 or placebo for 8 weeks. We found that As4S4 prevented the skin, renal and lung lesions of MRL/lpr mice. As4S4 significantly decreased the double negative T (DN T) cells and reduced the serum levels of IL-17, IL-10, and antinuclear antibodies titer. Further results revealed that the FasL was decreased, and activated caspases elevated in DN T cells in As4S4 treated MRL/lpr mice. Taken together, As4S4 could selectively suppresses DN T cells by inducing apoptosis. It also reduced inflammatory cytokines IL-17, which may be produced by DN T cells. As4S4 may represent a new therapy for SLE.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None declared.
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