Tripdiolide is an anti-inflammatory isolate of Tripterygium wilfordii. Triptolide and tripdiolide are thought to be active components of the Chinese antirheumatic herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, which has been shown to be effective in treating murine lupus nephritis. This study was undertaken to examine the therapeutic effect of triptolide and tripdiolide on established lupus nephritis in (NZB X NZW)F1 mice. The mean level of anti-dsDNA antibody in mice treated with tripdiolide was lower than that in the vehicle-treated mice upon completion of the treatment course. Production of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 by spleen cells was also decreased after diterpenoid therapy. Therapy with triptolide or tripdiolide significantly ameliorated lupus nephritis in (NZB X NZW)F1 mice, reduced cytokine and chemokine production, and prolonged survival.
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