1.Effect of Yangqixue Qufengshi Recipe on rheumatoid arthritis model mice under different genetic backgrounds.
Fen LI ; Hong WU ; Jun-wei DENG ; Song-qing FAN ; Jing TIAN ; Jie-sheng GAO ; Ya-hui ZHU ; Guang-xiu LU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2006;12(1):46-49
OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Yangqixue Qufengshi Recipe (YQXQFS) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model mice under different genetic backgrounds.
METHODSCollagen Induced Arthritis (CIA) were established on HLA-DR4 transgenic (TG) mice and non-transgenic (NTG) mice, which partly were raised with YQXQFS, and the onset day of CIA, the level of type II collagen (CII)-reactive antibodies and the pathological scores of CIA were assessed.
RESULTSUnder HLA-DR4 TG background (compared with NTG mice), the earlier onset day of CIA (11.22 +/- 3.35 days vs 16.56 +/- 4.75 days, P < 0.05) and higher level of CII-reactive antibodies (0.2274 +/- 0.1390 microg/ml vs 0.1101 +/- 0.0560 microg/ml, P < 0.05) were observed, but the pathological scores of CIA remained unchanged. YQXQFS could not influence the onset day of CIA and the level of CII-reactive antibodies, but had a certain effect on the total pathological scores (6.56 +/- 3.43 scores vs 11.11 +/- 5.64 scores) and bone erosion (0.22 +/- 0.44 scores vs 1.67 +/- 1.50 scores) of CIA on NTG mice (P < 0.05), NTG YQXQFS group compared with NTG experimental group.
CONCLUSIONYQXQFS had a certain effect on RA model, but had no significant effect on HLA-DR4 related CIA.
Animals ; Antibodies ; blood ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Collagen Type II ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; HLA-DR4 Antigen ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Knockout
2.Expression of CC chemokine ligand 5 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity and medication.
Ming-hui YANG ; Feng-xia WU ; Chuan-mei XIE ; Yu-feng QING ; Guang-rong WANG ; Xiao-lan GUO ; Zhong TANG ; Jing-guo ZHOU ; Guo-hua YUAN
Chinese Medical Sciences Journal 2009;24(1):50-54
OBJECTIVETo determine the levels of CC chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their relations with disease activity and medication.
METHODSCCL5 in serum and SF was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 28 RA patients and 21 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In RA patients, the correlations of CCL5 levels in serum and SF with disease activity were analyzed. Meanwhile, the serum CCL5 levels among RA patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Tripterygium Glucosides, and other Chinese herbs without disease-modifying effects were also compared.
RESULTSCCL5 levels in both serum and SF of RA patients were significantly higher than those of OA patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, the level of CCL5 was higher in SF than that in serum of RA patients (P < 0.01). Serum CCL5 level was correlated significantly with the number of swollen joints (r = 0.3329, P < 0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.4001, P < 0.05), and C reactive protein (r = 0.3735, P < 0.01). In addition, the level of CCL5 had a trend of lower in patients treated with DMARDs or Tripterygium Glucosides than those treated with other Chinese herbs, although the difference was not significant among those patients due to the small number of patients in each group.
CONCLUSIONSIn RA patients, the expression of CCL5 increases and correlates with some clinical and laboratory parameters of RA, which indicate that CCL5 plays an important role in RA and may serve as a useful marker of disease activity. DMARDs and Tripterygium Glucosides might exert their clinical effects through reducing CCL5 production in RA.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Chemokine CCL5 ; analysis ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis ; blood ; metabolism ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism ; Young Adult
3.Therapeutic effect of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate on collagen-induced arthritis in rats.
Roba M TALAAT ; Amira S ABO-EL-ATTA ; Sabah M FAROU ; Karima I EL-DOSOKY
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2015;21(11):846-854
OBJECTIVETo study the effect of oral administration of dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB) on adjusting angiogeneic/inflammatory mediators and ameliorating the pathology of bones in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
METHODSWistar rat model of CIA was set up using bovine collagen type II. Fifty rats were divided into five groups randomly: normal, CIA model, DDB treatment, methotrexate (MTX) treatment, and combined DDB+MTX treatment. Ankle joints of rats were imaged with digital X-ray machine to show the destruction of joints. Fore and hind paw and knee joints were removed above the ankle joint then processed for haematoxylin and eosin staining. Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet derived growth factor, interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-4, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nitric oxide levels were detected by Griess reagent.
RESULTSCompared with the CIA model group, a remarkable reduction in various angiogenic (VEGF and IL-8) and inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-4 and COX-2) after treatment with DDB either alone or combined with MTX P<0.05 or P<0.01). Histopathological and X-ray findings were confirmatory to the observed DDB anti-arthritic effect. The DDB-treated group showed amelioration in signs of arthritis which appeared essentially similar to normal.
CONCLUSIONOur data shed light on the therapeutic efficacy of DDB in experimental rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with a choice drug (MTX) and it may be offered as a second-line drug in the treatment of RA.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Collagen ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; blood ; Dioxoles ; therapeutic use ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; biosynthesis ; Platelet-Derived Growth Factor ; analysis ; Radiography ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood
4.Xinfeng capsule for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis patients with decreased pulmonary function--a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Lei WAN ; Jian LIU ; Chuan-bing HUANG ; Yuan WANG ; Xi CHEN ; Wan-dong ZHANG ; Gui-zhen WANG ; Hai-xia FAN ; Yao GE ; Rui-lian CHEN ; Yun-xiang CAO ; Rui-kai ZONG ; Tian-yang LIU
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2016;22(3):168-176
OBJECTIVETo determine the effectiveness and safety of Xinfeng Capsules (XFC) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with decreased pulmonary function.
METHODSThis was a randomized controlled clinical trial of 80 RA patients. Participants were assigned to the trial group (40 cases) and the control group (40 cases) by block randomization. The trial group was treated with XFC, three pills each time three times daily for 2 months. The control group was treated with tripterygium glycoside (TPT), two pills each time three times daily for 2 months. Both groups were followed up after 2 months. The clinical effects, changes in joint and pulmonary function, and quality of life before and after treatment were observed; safety indices were also evaluated.
RESULTSPain, swelling, tenderness, and duration of morning stiffness of joints were obviously decreased after treatment in both the trial and the control groups compared with baseline (P<0.01). Compared with before treatment, hand grip strength increased significantly after treatment in the trial group (P=0.0000); pulmonary function parameters such as forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC), 50% of the expiratory flow of forced vital capacity (FEF50), carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLco) were increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05); measures of quality of life such as role-physical, body pain, vitality and mental health were also improved after treatment in the trial group (all P<0.05). Joint swelling in the trial group decreased compared with the control group (P=0.0043), while hand grip strength was increased after treatment (P=0.0000). The increase in FEF50, DLco, and the dimensions of quality of life such as vitality and mental health were all significantly greater in the trial group than the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONSXFC not only relieved joint pain in RA patients, but also significantly improved the ventilation and diffusion function of the lungs. Therefore, XFC could improve the whole body function and enhance the quality of life of RA patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Treatment Outcome
5.Comparative study on characteristics of Chinese and Western medicine for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis regarding cartilage erosion related blood biochemical and immunological factors.
Xue-Wen LIU ; Qing-Lin ZHA ; Yi-Ting HE
Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine 2007;27(12):1090-1093
OBJECTIVETo analyse the cartilage erosion related blood biochemical and immune factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to explore the special influences of Chinese medicine (CM) and Western medicine (WM) on these factors.
METHODSThree hundred and ninety-seven patients, with confirmed diagnosis of active RA, were randomly assigned to the WM group (194 patients) and the CM group (203 patients). The WM applied covered non-steroid anti-inflammatory agents and slow acting medicine; and the CM given included basic remedy and syndrome differentiating medication. Related blood biochemical and immunological indexes were determined before and after treatment to screen out the cartilage erosion related factors and to compare the influence of CM and WM on them.
RESULTSPatients' peripheral red blood cell (RBC) and platelet (PLT) count were changed closely along with their degree of cartilage erosion. RBC count increased in the CM group and PLT count lowered in the WM group after treatment, all showed statistical significance; comparison of the two indexes between the two groups showed that statistical difference presented in RBC but not in PLT count.
CONCLUSIONBoth WM and CM can ameliorate the cartilage erosive factor in RA, but they are acting in different ways.
Adult ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; Cartilage, Articular ; drug effects ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Erythrocyte Count ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Platelet Count ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult
6.Methanol extract of Celastrus orbiculatu suppresses synovial hyperplasia and cartilage erosion and degradation in rheumatoid arthritis.
Chang-hong XIAO ; Wei-wang GU ; Jia-ning ZHANG ; Guo-qiang CHEN ; Shi-feng HUANG ; Min YANG ; De-chao CHEN ; Jie CHEN ; Dan XIAO
Journal of Southern Medical University 2007;27(7):945-950
OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of methanol extract of Celastrus orbiculatu (MECO) on synovial hyperplasia and cartilage erosion and degradation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and explore the possible mechanisms to provide clues for new drug development for RA treatment.
METHODSThe articular synovium from patients with RA and normal articular cartilage were co-implanted into the back of severe combined immunodeficient (SCID)mice to establish the chimeric model SCID- HuRAg. Four weeks later, the mice were given MECO intragastrically at 30 mg/day, leflunomide at 500 microg/day or distilled water, respectively, for 4 consecutive weeks. After completion of the treatments, the histological scores of the grafts for synovial hyperplasia, cartilage invasion by synoviocyte and cartilage degradation around the chondrocytes were evaluated, and serum level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was measured with radioimmunoassay. The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA and the cell apoptosis in the synovium were detected with in situ hybridization (ISH) and TUNEL, respectively, and the results were analyzed with the image analysis system.
RESULTSThe grafts survived in the mice till the end of experiment. MECO and leflunomide, in comparison with distilled water, significantly lowered the scores for synovial hyperlasia (2.00+/-0.76 and 2.25+/-0.89 vs 3.63+/-0.52), cartilage erosion (1.69+/-0.80 and 2.00+/-1.36 vs 3.75+/-0.53), cartilage degradation (1.88+/-0.83 and 2.13+/-0.83 vs 3.63+/-0.74) and serum TNF-alpha level (0.84+/-0.09 and 0.83+/-0.12 vs 0.99+/-0.11 ng/ml). Cell apoptosis of the synovium increased significantly with MECO and leflunomide treatments, but the expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in the synovium decreased significantly in MECO group.
CONCLUSIONMECO can effectively suppress synovial hyperplasia and cartilage erosion and degradation SCID-HuRAg mice by reducing TNF-alpha production in the synovium and promoting synovial apoptosis. MECO can be comparable with leflunomide in their effect, but the former is more effective in suppressing TNF-alpha expression in the synovium.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cartilage Diseases ; complications ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Celastrus ; chemistry ; Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; complications ; drug therapy ; Male ; Methanol ; chemistry ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; pathology ; transplantation ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; genetics
7.Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of Guge Fengtong Formula: in vitro and in vivo studies.
Xiao-Lan CHENG ; Xin-Guang LIU ; Qi WANG ; Ling ZHOU ; Lian-Wen QI ; Ping LI ; E-Hu LIU
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines (English Ed.) 2015;13(11):842-853
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory arthritis and a major cause of disability. Presently, the clinical therapeutic medicines for inflammatory and arthritic diseases are unsatisfactory due to severe adverse effects or ineffectiveness. The Guge Fengtong formula (GGFT), containing the standardized extracts of Dioscoreae Nipponicae Rhizoma, Spatholobi Caulis, and Zingiberis Rhizoma, has long been used for RA treatment by Chinese doctorsin China. However, the detailed anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of GGFT has not been reported so far. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of GGFT using three in vivo animal models, and tried to uncover its preliminarythe underlying mechanism of action mechanism in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The obtained results indicated that GGFT significantly attenuated ear edema, decreased carrageenan-induced paw edema, reduced the arthritis score, and reversed the weight loss of the complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)CFA-injected rats. Additionally, marked decrease of in synovial inflammatory infiltration and synovial lining hyperplasia in the joints and decline of inflammatory factors (TNF-α and IL-1β) in the serum were observed in the GGFT-treated rats. In lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 macrophages, GGFT reduced the production of NO, PGE2, and IL-6, and inhibited the expression of iNOS, COX-2, and NF-κB expression. Our results demonstrated that GGFT possessed considerable anti-inflammatory activity and have had potential therapeutic effects on adjuvant induced arthritis in rats, which provided providing experimental evidences for its traditional application in the treatment of RA and other inflammatory diseases.
Animals
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Anti-Inflammatory Agents
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pharmacology
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therapeutic use
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Antirheumatic Agents
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pharmacology
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therapeutic use
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Arthritis
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid
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drug therapy
;
metabolism
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pathology
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Carrageenan
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Cytokines
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blood
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Dioscorea
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Disease Models, Animal
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal
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pharmacology
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therapeutic use
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Fabaceae
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Freund's Adjuvant
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Inflammation
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chemically induced
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drug therapy
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metabolism
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Inflammation Mediators
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metabolism
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Macrophages
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drug effects
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred ICR
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Phytotherapy
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RAW 264.7 Cells
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Zingiberaceae
8.Measurement of Interleukin-33 (IL-33) and IL-33 Receptors (sST2 and ST2L) in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Yeon Sik HONG ; Su Jin MOON ; Young Bin JOO ; Chan Hong JEON ; Mi La CHO ; Ji Hyeon JU ; Hye Jwa OH ; Yu Jung HEO ; Sung Hwan PARK ; Ho Youn KIM ; Jun Ki MIN
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2011;26(9):1132-1139
The interleukin-33 (IL-33)/ST2 pathway has emerged as an intercellular signaling system that participates in antigen-allergen response, autoimmunity and fibrosis. It has been suggested that IL-33/ST2 signaling has been involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), because IL-33 and its receptor have been specifically mapped to RA synovium. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of IL-33 and sST2 in sera and synovial fluids in patients with RA. The serum level of IL-33 was significantly higher in patients with RA (294.9 +/- 464.0 pg/mL) than in healthy controls (96.0 +/- 236.9 pg/mL, P = 0.002). The synovial fluid level of IL-33 was significantly higher in RA patients than in osteoarthritis patients. The level of serum sST2 was higher in RA patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.042). A significant relationship was found between the levels of IL-33 and IL-1beta (r = 0.311, P = 0.005), and IL-33 and IL-6 (r = 0.264, P = 0.017) in 81 RA patients. The levels of IL-33, sST2 and C-reactive protein decreased after conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs treatment in 10 patients with treatment-naive RA. Conclusively, IL-33 is involved in the pathogenesis of RA and may reflect the degree of inflammation in patients with RA.
Adult
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Aged
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Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/drug therapy/*pathology
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C-Reactive Protein/analysis
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Female
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Humans
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Interleukin-1beta/analysis/blood
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Interleukin-6/analysis/blood
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Interleukins/*analysis/blood
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Osteoarthritis/blood/pathology
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Receptors, Cell Surface/*analysis/blood
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Synovial Fluid/metabolism
9.Serum concentrations of soluble 4-1BB and 4-1BB ligand correlated with the disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis.
Hyo Won JUNG ; Seung Won CHOI ; Jung IL CHOI ; Byoung Se KWON
Experimental & Molecular Medicine 2004;36(1):13-22
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifactorial autoimmune disease whose etiopathogenesis is not well understood. Although soluble (s) forms of 4-1BB (s4-1BB) and 4-1BB legand (s4-1BBL) have been detected in the sera of RA patients, their significance is not known. We compared the serum levels of s4-1BB and s4-1BBL in RA patients with those in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Behcet's disease (BD) patients. Serum levels of s4-1BB and s4-1BBL were significantly higher in RA patients compared with healthy controls, SLE or BD patients, and the abundance was correlated with disease severity in patients with RA. The serum levels of s4-1BB in RA patients were inversely corroborated with 4-1BB expression levels on activated T lymphocytes. In addition, there was a correlation between serum levels of s4-1BB and s4-1BBL. The augmented secretion of s4-1BB and s4-1BBL levels into the serum may reflect the clinical symptoms of RA and levels of s4-1BB and s4-1BBL in sera at the time of diagnosis may be indicative of the severity and outcome of RA.
Adult
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Aged
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Antigens, CD/metabolism
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid/*blood/drug therapy/immunology/*pathology
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Behcet Syndrome/blood/immunology
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Comparative Study
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Female
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Humans
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Immunosuppressive Agents/metabolism/therapeutic use
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Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism
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Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/blood/immunology
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Random Allocation
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor/*blood
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Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/*blood
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Severity of Illness Index
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Statistics
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*metabolism