Effects of Sairei-to (TJ-114) on the expression of adhesion molecule in anti-GBM nephritic rats

In order to clarify the antinephritic mechanisms of Sairei-to (TJ-114), the effects of TJ-114 on the expression of adhesion molecules were evaluated in rats with anti-GBM nephritis. TJ-114 was administered orally once a day from the day (1st day) after anti-GBM serum injection throughout the experiment. TJ-114 inhibited crescent formation in glomeruli at the 10th day compared to control rats with anti-GBM nephritis. The ICAM-1-or VCAM-1-positive area in the glomeruli was increased in the nephritic control rats at the 10th day. In contrast, TJ-114 prevented increase in the ICAM-1-or VCAM-1-positive area in the glomeruli of nephritic rats. TJ-114 inhibited increase in the number of LFA-1-or VLA-4-positive cells in the glomeruli. One of the constituent components of TJ-114, Syo-saiko-to (TJ-9) at the dose of 750 mg/kg, also significantly inhibited increase in the ICAM-1-or VCAM-1-positive area in the glomeruli. Gorei-san (TJ-17), another component of TJ-114, inhibited increase in the ELAM-1-positive area and increase in the number of VLA-4-positive cells in the glomeruli. Prednisolone markedly inhibited increase in the positive area of those adhesion molecules and increase in the number of ligand-molecule-positive cells in the glomeruli. These results indicate that the antinephritic action of TJ-114 may be partially due to inhibition of adhesion molecule expression in the glomeruli.