Abstract:

Objective To investigate the influence of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells（Tregs） on the disease progression in MRL/lps mice. Methods Tregs were separated by using magnetic beads from splenic cells of MRL/lps mice and BALB/c mice, and concentrated. Twenty-four MRL/lps mice were equally divided into 3 groups, test group 1 injected with Tregs from MRL/lps mice, test group 2 injected with Tregs from BALB/c mice, and control group injected with physiological sodium chloride solution. Three weeks later, the levels of urine protein as well as serum anti-dsDNA antibody were determined; subsequently, the mice were sacrificed followed by histopathological and immunopathological examination of renal tissue. Results A significant decline was observed in the test group 1 compared with the test group 2 and control group in the urine protein score （10.63 ± 4.17 vs. 20.00 ± 5.35 and 18.75 ± 8.34, both P < 0.05）, serum anti-dsDNA antibody level （5.36 ± 2.40 pg/ml vs. 9.57 ± 1.97 pg/ml and 10.75 ± 3.98 pg/ml, both P < 0.05）, glomerular sclerosis index ［（32.00 ± 12.09）% vs. （45.50 ± 13.68）% and （47.50 ± 10.78）%, both P < 0.05］, and immunofluorescence intensity of IgG immune complex in renal tissue （1.88 ± 0.99 vs. 2.88 ± 0.64 and 2.75 ± 0.71, both P < 0.05）. No significant difference was noted in renal tubule interstitial impairment index between the 3 groups（4.63 ± 1.92, 6.00 ± 1.07 and 5.75 ± 1.28, all P > 0.05）. There was no statistical difference between the test group 2 and control group in terms of any of the above parameters （all P > 0.05）. Conclusions Injection of Tregs from homologous mice could significantly down-regulate proteinuria degree, serum anti-dsDNA antibody level, glomerular sclerosis index and IgG immune complex level in renal tissue, and thereby decelerate the progression of renal impairment in MRL/lps mice.

Key words: renal impairment