FOXP3 Modulation of Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and its Impacts on Lupus Nephritis Mice

Abstract

Background: Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside (QUE) has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects which probably beneficially used in lupus.Objective: This research was focused on analyzing the effects of QUE on FOXP3 modulation to result in an anti-inflammatory outcome in the kidney of severe lupus mice.Methods: This research used Pristane-induced female BALB/c lupus mice, and the biomarkers involved in were CD4+CD25+ T reg cells, FOXP3 T cells, anti-Sm, IL-6, and histopathology assessment of the kidney of lupus mice. The QUE group was treated and compared to the negative control which received placebo, and the positive control which received cyclophosphamide.Results: QUE increased the number of CD4+CD25+ T reg cells (negative control: 3.01±3.43%; QUE: 18.77±5.12%; positive control: 3.26±11.09%), and FOXP3 significantly (p <0.05) (negative control: 1.14±0.54%; QUE: 2.00±1.45%; positive control: 1.73±1.14%). The anti- Sm level did not decrease, meanwhile the IL-6 decreased significantly, and the histopathological assessment of the kidney reveal the repairing effects of QUE on glomeruli.Conclusion: QUE has an anti-inflammatory activity which reduces the severity of lupus nephritis signs in lupus mice by initially increasing the CD4+CD25+ and FOXP3+ Tregs numbers. QUE is potential to be further developed as a safe treatment choice for lupus nephritis.

Keywords: Glomerulonephritis; IL-6; Lupus; Pristane; T regs