Statistical analysis
All calculations were performed using GraphPad Prism 9.0 software. Data were presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). T-tests were used to assess differences between the two groups. ANOVA followed by Bonferroni posthoc test was used for multiple comparisons. P value < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results
SBI alleviated lupus-like disease in R848-induced mice.
At 12 weeks, the survival rates of mice in the R848-induced group and the acetone- treated group were 66.7% and 100% respectively (p = 0.065) (Fig. 1A). In comparison to the control group, repeated treatment of B6 mice with R848 resulted in the development of lupus-like manifestations, such as splenomegaly, elevated levels of total IgG, ANA, anti-dsDNA, urine protein, urine creatinine, and serum creatinine (Fig. 1B-I), as well as increased infiltration of leukocytes and deposition of IgG/C3 in kidney sections (Fig. 1J).
In contrast, the survival rate of all mice induced with R848 and treated with SBI remained at 100% after 12 weeks (Fig. 1A). The administration of SBI exhibited a significant inhibitory effect on spleen enlargement and resulted in reduced levels of serum IgG, anti-dsDNA, urine protein, and urine creatinine in R848-induced mice (Fig. 1B-I). Additionally, SBI treatment demonstrated an improvement in renal pathology, a reduction in kidney inflammation, and a decrease in the sedimentation of IgG and C3 in the kidney (Fig. 1J), providing evidence that SBI effectively ameliorates lupus-like symptoms in mouse models.