RESUMEN
Artesunate is a semi-synthetic derivative of a Chinese herb named Artemisia annua L. that is commonly used as an antimalarial agent in the history of traditional Chinese medicine. Many studies have reported artesunate possesses anti-inflammatory and immunoregulation properties. The present study was conducted to explore whether artesunate was effective in experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) in Lewis rats. Our data showed that artesunate could improve the clinical symptoms and suppress the development of EAMG. Artesunate exerted its immunomodulatory effects by inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation and the expression of costimulatory molecules CD86, modulating Th1/Th2 cytokine expression levels, and enhancing the level of Treg cells. The final result of administration of artesunate was the decreased synthesis of anti-R97-116 IgG, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibodies. The treatment effect of artesunate was more obvious at dose of 10 mg/kg. These date suggest that artesunate might be a potential drug for the treatment of human myasthenia gravis (MG).
Asunto(s)
Artesunato/farmacología , Factores Inmunológicos/farmacología , Miastenia Gravis Autoinmune Experimental/tratamiento farmacológico , Linfocitos T Reguladores/inmunología , Animales , Antimaláricos/administración & dosificación , Antimaláricos/farmacología , Artesunato/administración & dosificación , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Citocinas/inmunología , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Femenino , Factores Inmunológicos/administración & dosificación , Miastenia Gravis Autoinmune Experimental/inmunología , Miastenia Gravis Autoinmune Experimental/fisiopatología , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas Lew , Células TH1/inmunología , Células Th2/inmunología , Regulación hacia ArribaRESUMEN
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by fatigue and muscle weakness. Ginseng is used in the treatment of MG. Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), the most abundant ginsenoside in ginseng root, has been proved to be immune regulatory in various diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of G-Rb1 in treatment for MG in a rat model. Our data showed that G-Rb1 treatment markedly ameliorated the symptoms of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) rats, decreased the percentage of Th17 cells in mononuclear cells (MNCs), and increased the number of Treg and Th2 cells in MNCs. We also found that G-Rb1 treatment decreased the serum level of anti-R97-116 peptides IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. Our findings provide strong evidence that G-Rb1 treatment has immune regulatory effects in EAMG rats, which indicate that G-Rb1 may be employed as a therapeutic medication for MG.