Effects of liposteroid on skin lesions in autoimmune MRLlpr/lpr mice

• Published in: Journal of dermatological science 1997-11, Vol.16 (1), p.45-51
• Main Authors: Aihara, M, Aihara, Y, Takahashi, Y, Nakajima, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Autoimmunity - immunology; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Dexamethasone - analogs & derivatives; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Emulsions; Female; Liposomes; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - pathology; Methylprednisolone - administration & dosage; Mice; Mice, Inbred MRL lpr; Microspheres; Solubility
• ISSN: 0923-1811
• DOI: 10.1016/S0923-1811(97)00620-8

Dexamethasone palmitate (D-PAL) incorporated into lipid microspheres (D-PAL emulsion) is taken up by the reticuloendothelial system and by some inflammatory cells. Therefore, it has a stronger anti-inflammatory activity than free corticosteroids in vivo. To study the effect of D-PAL emulsion on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we administered D-PAL emulsion to MRLlpr/lpr mice, an animal model for human SLE. The effect of D-PAL emulsion was compared with that of methylprednisolone (m-PSL), a water-soluble steroid. Percent survival was higher in the group treated with 0.25 mg of D-PAL emulsion intravenously once every 4 weeks than in those groups treated similarly with m-PSL or PBS control. Swelling of lymph nodes was frequent in the group treated with m-PSL or with PBS, while rarely observed in the group treated with D-PAL emulsion. Proteinuria was more frequent in the groups treated with m-PSL or PBS than in the group treated with D-PAL emulsion. Although the frequency of skin lesions was not different between these three groups, the control and m-PSL treated mice had severe skin lesions, such as hair loss of erythematous skin with scales and crusts at the nape, while D-PAL emulsion treated animals showed only facial alopecia without inflammatory skin changes. These data demonstrate that D-PAL emulsion was more effective than a corresponding dose of m-PSL on autoimmune prone mice. This suggests that intermittent administration of D-PAL emulsion may be effective in the treatment of human SLE.