Therapeutic Effects of Tofacitinib on Pristane-Induced Murine Lupus
Jiayi LIN1
, Yaqin ZHANG1, Meihua WANG1, Yang ZHANG1, Pin LI2, Yingping CAO1, Xuwei YANG2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
2Department of Rheumatology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
Keywords: Janus kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription, systemic lupus erythematosus, tofacitinib.
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of tofacitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) 1/JAK3 inhibitor, in treating murine lupus, and also explore 12 related genes downstream of JAK-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways to find the underlying mechanism.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted between July 2017 and January 2020. Fifty-seven female BALB/c mice (aging 8 to 10 weeks old; weighing 18 to 20 g) were assigned to a saline control (SC) group and a pristane-induced lupus group. The latter included four groups, namely, pristane control (PC), tofacitinib (T), methylprednisolone (MP), and tofacitinib plus methylprednisolone (T+MP). Animal models of lupus were induced with pristane, whereas SC mice were treated with normal saline. From the 22nd week after induction, each group was given the aforementioned corresponding intervention for 11 weeks. The following variables were tested: serum concentrations of anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ); number of regulatory T (Treg) cells; messenger ribonucleic acid levels of forkhead box P3 and 12 related genes downstream of JAK-STAT pathway; and renal impairment.
Results: Red swollen joints and proteinuria were first observed in PC after the 12th week. After treatment, T, MP, and T+MP showed relieved red swollen joints and splenomegaly, as well as decreased urine protein, anti-dsDNA, IL-6, IFN-γ, Treg cells, pathological scores, and hyperplasia of mesangial matrix in glomeruli compared with PC. The IFN regulatory factor 7 level was higher in T+MP (p0.05) and MP (p>0.05) than in PC after treatment. The expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1 was lower in T (p>0.05), T+MP (p0.05) than in PC. The SOCS3 level was higher in T (p>0.05) and T+MP (p0.05) than in PC.
Conclusion: Tofacitinib can ameliorate glomerulonephritis and arthritis in a pristane-induced murine model of lupus. SOCS3 gene may be involved in the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib.
Citation: Lin J, Zhang Y, Wang M, Zhang Y, Li P, Cao Y, et al. Therapeutic effects of tofacitinib on pristane-induced murine lupus. Arch Rheumatol 2022;37(2):195-204.
Animal use protocols were approved by the Animal Experimental Ethical Inspection Committee of Fujian Medical University (ethical no: FJMU IACUC 2020-0023). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Data Sharing Statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Performed the experiments: J.L., Y.Z., M.W., Y.Z., P.L.; Designed and interpreted the data: Y.C.; Designed and performed the experiments, interpreted the data, and wrote the manuscript: X.Y.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.
This work was supported by grants from Fujian Provincial Natural Science Foundation (Grant no. 2016J01551), Fujian Provincial Health Project (Grant no. 2018-CX-19), Fujian Provincial Health Project (Grant no.2017-CX-20) and Fujian Province Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology (Grant no. 2017Y9051).