[Objective] To observe the effects of Tongbiling (TBL) prescription in counteracting cartilage destruction in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). [Methods] Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat models were established to observe the therapeutic effects of TBL. After a short-term treatment, expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF - a) and transforming growth factor (TGF- P) in cartilage tissue of model group, methotrenxate (MTX) tablets group and Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii (RTW) preparation group were examined by immunohistochemical semi-quantitative assessment method. [ Results ] The number of chondrocytes with positive TNF - a expression was lower and the chondrocytes were stained lighter in normal group than those in model group and low-dose MTX group ( P

[ObjectivejTo explore the therapeutic mechanism of Tongbiling (TBL) prescription for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by observing the effects of TBL on inflammation and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in synovium of rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) .[Methods]CIA rat models were established by subcutaneous injection of type II collagen. Pathological sections of synovium in knee joint were made after medication for 37 days and then stained by HE method and immunohistochemical method respectively. Infiltration of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of macrophages A and fibrous tissue in HE-stained pathological sections were observed under microscope and expression of VEGF was observed by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical method. [ Results ] Infiltration of inflammatory cells and hyperplasia of macrophages A and fibrous tissue in high-dose TBL group were inferior to those in model group (P 0.05); both TBL and Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii at high dose decreased the expression of VEGF (P

BACKGROUND: Tongbiling is the modified guizhi shaoyao zhimu tang (Decoction of Cinnamon Twig, Peony and Anemarrhena) recorded in Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber. It has been used for rheumatoid arthritis(RA) for more than ten years. Here is the experimental study on effects of tongbiling on interleukin 2(IL-2) and its α-chain, IL-2Rα(CD25), to explain the mechanism of tongbiling in regulating the cellular immunity and resisting RA From the aspects of in vivo and in vitro.OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of tongbiling on IL-2 in collagen introduced arthritis of rats and the influence of total base of tongbiling on expression of IL2-Rα (CD25).DESIGN: A totally randomized and controlled experimental study based on the experimental animalsSETTING: Department of Jinkui of a university and the center of organ transplantation and immunity of another university.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out from April to July 2001 in the Central Laboratory of the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The 36 Wistar rats, clean degree, male,bought from the Animal Experimental Center of Medical College of Sun Yat-sen University, certificate No. 2000A050, weighted(110 ± 20) g, were divided into 6 groups with 6 in each: normal group, model group, methotrexate (MTX) high dosage group, MTX low dosage group, tongbiling high dosage group, and tongbiling small dosage group.METHODS: The experiment in vivo was done with the modeled rats of collagen-induced arthritis. The foot swelling was measured with volume method, the cells of primary synovium cultured, and the upper clear fluid of culture fluid tested with radioimmunoassay to observe the effect of tongbiling on synovial IL-2. The experiment in vitro was done in the way of separating the lymphocytes, giving extraneous stimulation with phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDB) or concanavalin A(ConA), using bicolor immunofluorescence labeling, testing with flow cytometer to observe the influence of total base of tongbiling on the expression of CD3 +, CD25 +.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The influence of tongbiling on the foot swelling and synovial IL-2 of rats with collagen-induced arthritis.RESULTS: In the experiment in vivo, the high dosage of tongbiling could relieve obviously the foot swelling, compared with MTX, there was no remarkable difference ( P ＞ 0.05) . Both high and low dosage of tongbiling could inhibit the synthesis of synovial IL-2 ( P ＜ 0.01 ). In the experiment in vitro, the total base of tongbiling could extremely inhibit the expression of CD3 +, CD25 + stimulated by ConA, but not effective for that stimulated by PDB plus ionomycin.CONCLUSION: Tongbiling can inhibit the IL-2 synthesis and the signal transduction of IL-2Rα (CD25) activated by ConA, relieving the inflammation of local joint. It provides an experimental evidence for the application of tongbiling in the treatment of RA.