OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of the Chinese medical formula Qubi Zhentong Recipe(, QZR) on the synovial gene expression profile in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats.

METHODSTen rats were randomly chosen from 60 rats as the control group, and the other 50 rats were used for the CIA models. The CIA model group was constructed by bovine injection of type II collagen through the rats' neck and tail. Twenty rats were randomly chosen from 34 successful CIA models and randomly assigned into two groups: the model group (n =10) and the QZR group (n=10). The QZR group was fed intragastrically with QZR 22.9 g/(kg·d) (10 times the clinical adult dose), and the CIA model group was given the same dose of normal saline. Both model and QZR groups were administered treatment once a day. Total RNA was collected from the knee joint synovium after 30 days. The change in gene expression profile was analyzed by a whole gene chip.

RESULTSA total of 76 genes showed a difference in expression between CIA model group and the control group; 35 genes were down-regulated and 41 were up-regulated. A total of 67 genes showed a difference in expression between the model group and the QZR group; 48 genes were down-regulated and 19 were upregulated.

CONCLUSIONSQZR may affect CIA by stimulating multiple genes and targets, which are related to oncogenes, apoptosis, metabolism, the immune system, ion channels, and transport proteins.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; genetics ; Cattle ; Disease Models, Animal ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Extremities ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transcriptome ; Up-Regulation ; drug effects ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo research the effects of Qubi Zhentong Recipe (QZR) on the expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the synovial of rats with collagen-inducing arthritis (CIA), and to discuss its mechanisms of action.

METHODSHealthy male Wistar rats were recruited and randomly divided into the model group ( n = 50) and the normal control group (n = 10). Rats of the model group were injected with type II collagen of bovine (BC II) emulsion in the tail and nape to establish the CIA model. After successful modeling, 30 successfully modeled rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups, i.e., the model group (n = 10), the QZR group (n = 10), and the methotrexate (MTX) group (n = 10). Rats in the normal control group and the model group were administered with physiological saline by gastrogavage, while those in the QZR group were administered with QZR at 22.9 g/kg by gastrogavage. All medication was performed once daily. The rats in the MTX group were administered with MTX suspension at 0.78 mg/kg by gastrogavage, once per week. After 30-day treatment, the levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, and VEGF in the synovial were detected by immunohistochemical method. The arthritis index (AI) was scored before and after medication.

RESULTSAfter treatment the AL score of the QZR group and the MTX group was obviously lower than that of the model group (P < 0.01). The AI score of the two drug groups were lower than that before treatment (P < 0.01). Compared with the normal control group, the expression levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, and VEGF obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, and VEGF were significantly lower in the two drug groups (P < 0.01). But there was no statistical difference between the QZR group and the MTX group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDecreasing the expression levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, and VEGF in the synovial of CIA rats may be one of the mechanisms for treating CIA by QZR.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-8 ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Synovial Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism