Experimental study of pristane-induced BALB/c mice systemic lupus erythematosus model

Objective: To establish a mice systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) model induced by Pristane.Methods: Female BALB/ c mice were divided into two groups randomly.The mice in model group were received a single intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 ml Pristane,while the mice in control group were received 0.9% sodium chloride injection with same volume.Before and after injection,anti-Sm / RNP antibody and anti-dsDNA antibody in serum were detected by ELISA,proteinuria content was quantified by Albustix dipstick test,and the changes of signs and symptoms in these mice were monitored monthly.Six months after injection,all mice were killed and lesions in abdominal organs were checked by anatomy.All injured organs were observed and kidneys were inspected by pathology.Histopathologic changes of injured organs were determined by HE staining method,and glomerular IgG deposition in kidney was detected by direct immunofluorescence staining method.Results: Serum anti-Sm / RNP antibody and anti-dsDNA antibody were detected two months after Pristane injection,and increased monthly.Compared with the control mice in the corresponding period,serum anti-Sm / RNP antibody and anti-dsDNA antibody in the model mice were increased obviously at 3-6 months after injection(P 0.01) and at 4-6 months after injection respectively(P 0.01).The increase of serum anti-Sm / RNP antibody was significantly higher than that of serum anti-dsDNA antibody.Urine protein( +) was detected since 3 months after Pristane injection,and at 6 months,urine protein content was significantly higher than that in the control mice(P 0.01).The symptom of arthritis in legs was shown at the third months after Pristane injection,and the positive incidence was 55% after 6 months,apparently higher than that in the control mice(P = 0.004).After the mice were killed at the sixth months,abdominal lipogranulomas more or less were found in most of the model mice.Kidney pathological examination was shown in over 50% Pristane-treated mice,glomerulonephritis more or less were observed and obvious immune complex deposition was observed in the wall of capillaries.Whereas,with an exception of one mouse developing proteinuria at 6th month after injection,none of the control mice displayed any pathological changes.Conclusions: Pristane can successfully induce mice SLE in BALB / c by intraperitoneal injection and is steady and reliable.