Objective Cheng's Juanbi Decoction(CSJBD)is a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula for treating rheumatoid arthritis(RA),exhibiting significant clinical efficacy,but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.We investigated whether CSJBD inhibited RA pathology by blocking the WTAP-Wnt7b-Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis using a collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)mouse model and fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLSs)derived from RA patients(RA FLSs)and examined the underlying mechanisms.Methods We conducted in vivo experiments.Male C57BL/6 mice weighing 17 to 20 g were used to establish the CIA model.The mice were assigned to 6 groups,including the normal group,the model(CIA)group,the model+CSJBD-L(8.1 g/kg)group,the model+CSJBD-M(16.2 g/kg)group,the model+CSJBD-H(32.4 g/kg)group,and the model+leflunomide(LEF)(0.05 mg/10 g)group,with 10 mice in each group.CSJBD was administered twice daily via gastric gavage,while LEF was administered once daily via gastric gavage,for a duration of 28 days.We also conducted in vitro experiments.RA FLSs were assigned to 4 groups,including the RA FLSs+CSJBDS-L group receiving 10%CSJBDS-containing serum,the RA FLSs+CSJBDS-M group receiving 15%CSJBDS-containing serum,the RA FLSs+CSJBDS-H group receiving 20%CSJBDS-containing serum,and the RA FLSs+NC group(negative control).To study whether WTAP regulated Wnt7b,RA FLSs were divided into the RA FLSs group,the RA FLSs+si-WTAP#3 group,the RA FLSs+si-WTAP#3+Wnt7b-OE group,and the RA FLSs+si-WTAP#3+Wnt7b-NC group.To study the underlying mechanism by which CSJBT affected RA FLSs,RA FLSs were divided into the RA FLSs group,the RA FLSs+CSJBDS-M group,the RA FLSs+CSJBDS-M+Wnt7b-OE group,and the RA FLSs+CSJBDS-M+NC group.We used ultra-high performance liquid chromatography(UPLC)to identify and quantify key monomer compounds from CSJBD as quality criteria for CSJBD preparation.Bioinformatics,CCK-8,RT-qPCR,Western blot,immunofluorescence,and related methods were employed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of CSJBD in treating RA.Results According to the UPLC analysis,ferulic acid,osthole,mulberroside A,notopterol,and gentiopicroside were identified as quality control standards for the preparation of CSJBD formula.CSJBD improved RA pathology in CIA mice,reduced the levels of interleukin(IL)-6,IL-1β,IL-8,and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in their serum,and decreased the expression of RA pathological genes MMP3 and fibronectin,with the difference between groups being statistically significant.Bioinformatics analysis suggested that CSJBD might inhibit RA pathology by suppressing the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway through Wnt7b.Experimental results showed that the expression of WTAP and Wnt7b was significantly increased in RA.After knocking down WTAP,the expression of Wnt7b was significantly reduced,and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was also inhibited,with the difference between groups being statistically significant(P<0.05),confirming that WTAP regulated the pathway via Wnt7b.According to experimental verification,CSJBD significantly inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the proliferation of RA FLSs.Wnt7b overexpression reversed the inhibitory effect of CSJBD on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and the proliferation of RA FLSs,indicating that Wnt7b is the direct target of CSJBD.Conclusion CSJBD inhibits RA pathology by blocking the WTAP-Wnt7b-Wnt/β-catenin signaling axis,with Wnt7b identified as a direct therapeutic target of CSJBD.

OBJECTIVE To explore the mechanism Baitouweng Decoction on mice with vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC)based on phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT)-hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)pathway.METHODS Female SPF-grade Kunming mice were injected subcutaneously with estradiol benzoate and vaginally inoculated with Candida albicans suspension to establish a VVC mouse model.The mice with successful modeling were randomly divided into model group,high-,me-dium-,and low-dose Baitouweng Decoction groups(23.4,11.7,and 5.85 g·kg-1),and fluconazole group(0.02 g·kg-1),with 20 mice in each group.Another 20 mice were injected with estradiol benzoate as control group.Treatment started the day after success-ful model establishment and continued for 14 days.Two hours after the last administration,the number of neutrophils in vaginal lavage fluid was examined with Papanicolaou stain.The HE staining method was used to observe the morphology of vaginal tissue.ELISA was used to measure the levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleo-tide phosphate oxidase 2(NOX2),reactive oxygen species(ROS),su-peroxide dismutase(SOD),malondialdehyde(MDA)in the vaginal tissues.The mRNA expression levels of PI3K,AKT and HIF-1α were detected using qPCR.Western blot was employed to evaluate the protein expression of p-PI3K,PI3K,p-AKT,AKT,and HIF-1α in vaginal tissue.RESULTS Compared to the control group,the model group exhibited a significant increase in neutrophils in va-ginal lavage fluid(P<0.001);the vaginal mucosal layer was severely desquamated and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrated.Additionally,there was an elevation in NOX2,ROS,and MDA levels in vaginal tissue(P<0.001),while SOD content decreased(P<0.001).Furthermore,the mRNA expression of PI3K,AKT and HIF-1α was reduced along with decreased protein ex-pression of p-PI3K/PI3K,p-AKT/AKT,and HIF-1α(P<0.001).In comparison to the model group,both high-dose and medi-um-dose groups treated with Baitouweng Decoction demonstrated a significant decrease in neutrophil count in lavage fluid(P<0.01,P<0.001);the condition of the vaginal mucosa improved to varying degrees.Moreover,the levels of ROS and MDA in vaginal tissue were reduced(P<0.05,P<0.01,P<0.001),the activity of NOX2 was decreased(P<0.01,P<0.001),and the activity of SOD was increased(P<0.01,P<0.001).The high-dose group showed that,the mRNA expression of PI3K,AKT,and HIF-1α in vaginal tissue was increased(P<0.001),the ratios of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT,and the protein expression of HIF-1α were increased(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Baitouweng Decoction has a therapeutic effect on VVC,and its mechanism of action may be related to the PI3K/AKT-HIF-1α signal pathway.