Silybin acts synergistically with mesenchymal stem cells to ameliorate
R848-induced lupus-like disease in mice
Abstract
Objective: To determine the therapeutic effects of silybin (SBI) and its
synergistic effects with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a lupus mouse
model and to explore the therapeutic mechanisms. Methods: TLR7/8 agonist
resiquimod (R848) was applied for the induction of lupus mice.
R848-induced B6 mice were randomly divided into a normal saline control
group, SBI group, MSCs group, and SBI plus MSCs group, and treated with
daily SBI by gavage or received MSCs injection once via the tail vein.
Mice were sacrificed at week 12, with urine, serum, kidney, and spleen
collected. The proportion of cell subsets was detected by flow cytometry
using splenocytes. Results: SBI treatment significantly decreased total
IgG, anti-ds-DNA antibody, and urinary protein levels, as well as renal
IgG and C3 deposition in R848-induced mice. It also increased the
ability of MSCs to suppress splenomegaly and serum antinuclear antibody
levels. In vivo and in vitro studies showed a decrease in the percentage
of Tfh cells after SBI treatment, which was most pronounced when
combined with MSC therapy. When splenocytes of R848-induced mice were
treated with SBI and MSCs in vitro, the expression of genes related to
Tfh cell differentiation, including IL-6, Stat3, and Bcl-6, was reduced,
and the phosphorylation of AKT, S6, and STAT3 proteins in Tfh cells was
decreased. Conclusion: SBI acts synergistically with MSCs to ameliorate
lupus-like features in R848-induced mice. It may enhance the ability of
MSCs to inhibit Tfh cell production by counteracting the activation of
IL-6 and its downstream pathways.