Objective: To study the protective effect of Yishen Yangyin mixture on lupus nephritis with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its molecular mechanism. Method: MRL/lpr model mice were given Yishen Yangyin mixture (17.25 g · kg-1) by gavage after the onset of disease

while the positive control group was given prednisone by gavage (0.65 mg · kg-1). Normal C57 background mice and MRL/lpr mice (experimental control group) were administered with normal saline

2 times a day

for consecutively 28 days; urine was collected every 7 days to detect the urine protein changes. After twenty-eight day

immunofluorescence staining was used for detecting kidney deposition IgG. Raybiotech antibody arrays was used to detect the changes of 308 cytokines; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to confirm some changed factors (mouse kidney tissue and serum level of patient); Western blot was used to detect Janus kinase2/signal transduction and transcrptional activators(JAK2/STAT3) signal

stromal cell derined facto-1/chemokine receptor4(SDF1/CXCR4) signal axis

expression of T helper 17 cells(TH17) cells secreted interleukin-17(IL-17). Result: In the Yishen Yangyin mixture group and the prodnisone group

with the extension of medication time

urine protein content decreased gradually

particularly in the fourth week (P<0.05); 28 days later after administration

compared with the MRL/lpr group (experimental control group)

the Yishen Yangyin mixture group and the prodnisone group showed decrease in kidney IgG deposition (P<0.05). According to Raybiotech antibody array screening

compared with normal C57 mice

the expression of kidney SDF1/CXCR4 signal in MRL/lpr mice was increased (P<0.01). Compared with MRL/lpr mice

the expression of SDF1/CXCR4 signal in Yishen Yangyin mixture group was significantly decreased (P<0.01). The results of SDF1/CXCR4 ELISA were consistent with the results of antibody array. Western blot assay showed that compared with normal C57 mice

the JAK2/STAT3 phosphorylation protein expression in kidney tissue of MRL/lpr mice was increased (P<0.05); meanwhile

the SDF1

CXCR4

IL-17 protein expression were significantly increased (P<0.05).When MRL/lpr mice was treated with Yishen Yangyin mixture and hormone by gavage for 28 days

compared with the MRL/lpr group

the phosphorylation level of JAK2

STAT3

the expression of SDF1

CXCR4 and the secretion of IL-17 significantly decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Yishen Yangyin mixture can reduce the urinary protein level of MRL/lpr mice

and can play a key role in renal protection by inhibiting activation of JAK2/STAT3 and SDF1/CXCR4 signaling pathway and decreasing the activity of T helper 17 cells and the secretion of IL-17.