No abstract

Star RA. Chloroquine and inhibition of Toll-like receptor 9 protect from sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.

We conducted a multicenter prospective trial to evaluate the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of rituximab (375 mg/m(2) body surface area) for the treatment of children with refractory steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). All patients (n = 12) were able to discontinue steroids at a median of 74 days after treatment. The frequency of relapses per 6 months was significantly reduced and the steroid-free period per 6 months was significantly increased after treatment compared with those before treatment. The condition in nine of the patients (75%) relapsed at a median of 129 days after treatment, and seven patients were given additional rituximab due to steroid dependency. Most of the relapses developed simultaneously with recovery of B-cells. However, three patients (25%) did not have a relapse with B-cell recovery and the disease was kept in remission for more than 1 year. None of the patients developed life-threatening adverse events. This is the first report of a prospective study of a single dose of rituximab for refractory SDNS. Treatment with a single dose of rituximab may be effective for refractory SDNS, but its efficacy to prevent relapses was transient in most of the patients.

Objective. Synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) expressing TTAGGG motifs suppress the production of proinflammatory cytokines and have been proven effective at blocking the development of certain organspecific autoimmune diseases. We undertook this study to determine whether suppressive ODN alter the development of systemic autoimmunity, by evaluating their effect on the progression of lupus-like disease in NZB ؋ NZW (NZB/NZW) mice.Methods. We repeatedly treated mice with suppressive ODN before or after the onset of proteinuria. We monitored the effect of treatment on the onset, severity, and immunologic correlates of disease.Results. Treatment with suppressive ODN significantly prolonged lifespan while delaying the onset and progression of glomerulonephritis in NZB/NZW mice. Clinical improvement was accompanied by a significant reduction in anti-double-stranded DNA autoantibody production and by significantly reduced secretion of interferon-␥ and interleukin-12 in vivo.Conclusion. Suppressive ODN may be of benefit in the treatment of chronic systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.