Study Of The Efficacy And Mechanisms Of Action Of Naja Naja Atra Venom In A Mouse Model Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and possible mechanisms of Naja Naja AtraVenom (NNAV) in a female mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods:Twelve-week old SLE mice (MRL/lpr) received Naja naja atra venom (20,40,80μg/kg,ig,daily) for4months or double distilled water (DDW). Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosidium (TWP) was used as a positive control drug. The skin injury, proteinuria, anxiety behavior, blood routine and biochemistry, organ indexes, spleen lymphocytes proliferation, autoantibody, complement C3, cytokines levels were examined. The histopathological changes were also observed.Results:The skin injury, abnormal inner open field, abnormal blood routine and biochemistry were improved and the proteinuria was reduced in NNAV-treated mice compared with the model mice. It was found that the abnormal spleen index was improved and the damages to kidney and immune organs were alleviated by NNAV. Furthermore the spleen lymphocytes tolerance to foreign antigens was improved and the abnormal autoantibody, complement C3and cytokines levels were adjusted by NNAV.Conclusion:The results suggest that Chinese.Cobra (Naja Naja Atra) Venom can treat SLE. NNAV worked mainly through reducing production of autoimmune antibody in autoimmune response.