Effect of lupus recipe on immune system and lymphocyte subsets proliferation in splenic cells of lupus-prone BXSB mice

AIM: To investigate the effects of lupus recipe on immune system and lymphocyte subsets proliferation in splenic cells in BXSB mice. METHODS: Eighteen male BXSB mice model was used in the experiment. The model mice were divided into three groups: un-treated model group, lupus recipe (LR) treated group, and prednisone treated group. All model mice were killed in 10 weeks. The control group consisted of 6 syngeneic normal C57BL/6 male mice. The levels of total IgG and anti-dsDNA antibody in serum were detected by ELISA. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD19+, CD23+ B lymphocytes) were detected by using flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: (1) The serum levels of total IgG and anti-dsDNA antibody in un-treated model group were higher than that in other groups. There was no differences among LR treated group, prednisone treated group and control group. (2) The percentages of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD19+, CD23+ B lymphocytes in model group were obviously higher than that in normal control. (3) Compared to un-treated model group, the percentages of CD4+, CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD19+, CD23+ B lymphocytes in LR or prednisone treated group were significantly reduced, which closely reached the levels in normal group. CONCLUSIONS: The immune functions of T and B lymphocytes in BXSB mice are up-regulated. LR inhibits the activation of T and B lymphocytes, reduces the serum levels of IgG and auto-antibody production.