Open AccessNon‐erythropoietic erythropoietin‐derived peptide protects mice from systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Huang Bo,
Jiang Juntao,
Luo Bangwei,
Zhu Wen,
Liu Yuqi,
Wang Zhishang,
Zhang Zhiren
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/jcmm.13608
Subject(s) - erythropoietin , autoantibody , medicine , haematopoiesis , immunology , cytokine , systemic lupus erythematosus , autoimmune disease , apoptosis , inflammation , endocrinology , antibody , chemistry , stem cell , biology , disease , biochemistry , genetics
Systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ) is an autoimmune disease, which results in various organ pathologies. However, current treatment towards SLE is suboptimal. Erythropoietin ( EPO ) has been shown to promote SLE recovery, but clinical application can be limited by its haematopoiesis‐stimulating effects. EPO ‐derived helix‐B peptide ( ARA 290) is non‐erythrogenic but has been reported to retain the anti‐inflammatory and tissue‐protective functions of EPO . Therefore, here we investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of ARA 290 on SLE . The administration of ARA 290 to pristane‐induced SLE and MRL / lpr mice significantly suppressed the level of serum antinuclear autoantibodies ( ANA s) and anti‐ds DNA autoantibodies, reduced the deposition of IgG and C3, and ameliorated the nephritis symptoms. Moreover, the serum concentrations of inflammatory cytokine IL ‐6, MCP ‐1 and TNF ‐α in SLE mice were reduced by ARA 290. Further, ARA 290 decreased the number of apoptotic cells in kidney. In vitro experiment revealed that ARA 290 inhibited the inflammatory activation of macrophages and promoted the phagocytotic function of macrophages to apoptotic cells. Finally, ARA 290 did not induce haematopoiesis during treatment. In conclusion, ARA 290 ameliorated SLE , which at least could be partly due to its anti‐inflammatory and apoptotic cell clearance promoting effects, without stimulating haematopoiesis, suggesting that ARA 290 could be a hopeful candidate for SLE treatment.