Objective : To investigate the mechanism of puerarin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) by network pharmacology and animal experiments. Methods : Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmcolog Database(TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction database were used to collect puerarin targets, and the targets of RA were obtained from GeneCards database and OMIM database. The PPI network was established by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software. Gene ontology(GO) function and Kyotoencyclopedia of genes(KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed through the Metascape database. RA rat-collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) model was reproduced using type Ⅱ collagen emulsion, 49 Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups: control group, CIA model group, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose puerarin group, methotrexate group, Tripterysium Glycosides Tablets group. Except for the control group, the other groups were given continuous gavage for 28 days after the CIA in rats model were prepared. The redness and swelling of the joints and ankle joint pathological changes were observed in each group. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Glycogen synthase kinase3β(GSK-3β), beta-catenin(β-catenin) proteins in the synovium. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR) was used to detect the expression of GSK-3β, β-catenin and c-Myc mRNA in the synovium. Results : Puerarin had 134 targets genes, RA had 5 821 target genes, and there were 102 overlapping target genes of puerarin and RA. It involved 184 signaling pathways, including JAK-STAT signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, Wnt signaling pathway, et al. The results of animal experiments showed that after the intervention of M-puerarin and MTX, the symptoms of redness and swelling of the hind foot were alleviated, the inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovium of the joint was significantly reduced, and the damage of cartilage and bone tissue was reduced. Compared with CIA group, the expressions of GSK-3β, β-catenin protein and GSK-3β, β-catenin and c-Myc mRNA in synovial tissue of rats after M-puerarin intervention decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion Puerarin has the characteristic of multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathway intervention in RA. Puerarin may alleviate synovial hyperplasia, reduce articular cartilage erosion and bone destruction in CIA in rats by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective To explore causal relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]and ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods Genetic data of 25(OH)D and AS were extracted from the genome-wide association study.The causal effect of 25(OH)D on AS was estimated by MR-Egger regression method,weighted median,inverse variance weighted(IVW),simple mode and weighted mode,and sensitivity analysis was conducted for verification.Results The IVW results indicated that there was a causal relationship between 25(OH)D concentration and AS(OR=0.805,95％CI:0.686-0.944,P=0.008),and the maximum likelihood ratio(OR=0.799,95％CI:0.678-0.940,P=0.007)showed consistent results.The IVW results of the reverse Mendelian randomization study showed that there was no causal relationship between the two(OR=1.019,95％CI:0.995-1.043,P=0.110).In addition,MR-Egger intercept,Cochran Q test,"leave-one-out"and MR-PRESSO analysis showed no horizontal pleipotency or heterogeneity.Conclusion There may be a genetic causal relationship between the concentration of 25(OH)D and the onset of AS.AS cannot cause changes in the concentration of 25(OH)D in the body.

Objective To explore causal relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D[25(OH)D]and ankylosing spondylitis(AS).Methods Genetic data of 25(OH)D and AS were extracted from the genome-wide association study.The causal effect of 25(OH)D on AS was estimated by MR-Egger regression method,weighted median,inverse variance weighted(IVW),simple mode and weighted mode,and sensitivity analysis was conducted for verification.Results The IVW results indicated that there was a causal relationship between 25(OH)D concentration and AS(OR=0.805,95％CI:0.686-0.944,P=0.008),and the maximum likelihood ratio(OR=0.799,95％CI:0.678-0.940,P=0.007)showed consistent results.The IVW results of the reverse Mendelian randomization study showed that there was no causal relationship between the two(OR=1.019,95％CI:0.995-1.043,P=0.110).In addition,MR-Egger intercept,Cochran Q test,"leave-one-out"and MR-PRESSO analysis showed no horizontal pleipotency or heterogeneity.Conclusion There may be a genetic causal relationship between the concentration of 25(OH)D and the onset of AS.AS cannot cause changes in the concentration of 25(OH)D in the body.

Objective Given that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway is associated with the progression of knee osteoarthritis(KOA),this study aims to investigate whether the polarization induction of synovial macrophages mediated by the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis is the cause of KOA progression.Methods The synovial fluid of KOA KL-Ⅱ and KL-Ⅲ patients and normal individuals was collected,and the percentage of M1 macrophages(CD80,CD86)and M2 macrophages(CD163,CD206)in the synovial fluid(M1/M2 ratio)was measured to e-valuate the polarization of macrophage cytokines such as IL-1,IL-6,IL-10,and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α,transforming growth factor(TGF)-β Expression in KOA synovial fluid,and detect and analyze of key molecules PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling axis PI3K,AKT3,mTORC1,and inducible nitric oxide synthase(iONS)in KOA synovial fluid.Results Compared with the synovial fluid of normal individuals,the percentage of M1 macrophages(CD80,CD86)in KOA patients increased(P<0.01),and the M1/M2 ratio increased(P<0.001);The ex-pression of IL-1,IL-6,and TNF-α in the synovial fluid of the KOA group was also higher than that of the control group(P<0.01),while the expression of IL-10 and TGF-β in the KOA group was significantly reduced(P<0.01);The key proteins PI3K,AKT3,mTORC1,and downstream inflammatory factor iONS in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the synovial fluid of the KOA group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.01).Conclusion In KOA synovial fluid,M1 macrophage polarization plays a dominant role,and the inflam-matory response mediated by M1 macrophage polarization may be the cause of synovitis.At the same time,the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway may mediate the polarization of M1 macrophages involved in KOA inflammato-ry response.

Objective To investigate the effect of leflunomide(LEF)on the expression of associated autophagy genes in synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)by regulating HIF-1α signal pathway.Methods Three genera-tions of RA synovial cells were divided into blank control group,LEF group and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglyco-sides group.The blank control group was added with the same volume of DMEM culture medium.The drug group was treated with LEF(concentration 0.2 mg/ml)and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides(concentration 0.03 mg/ml),the proliferation and apoptosis of synovial cells were detected by flow cytometry,the expression of IL-1 β,TNF-α,ANGPTL-4 and VEGF was detected by ELISA,the expression of HIF-1α mRNA was detected by qRT-PCR,and the expression of HIF-1 α,Beclin-1 and BNIP3 protein was detected by Western blot.Results Com-pared with Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides group,the expression of IL-1 α,TNF-α,ANGPTL-4 and VEGF in synovial supernatant of LEF group decreased;compared with the blank control group,the expression of HIF-1αmRNA in synovial cells of LEF group and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides group decreased,and the effect of LEF group was the most obvious;compared with the blank control group,the protein expressions of HIF-1α,Bec-lin-1 and BNIP3 in synovial cells of LEF group and Tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides group decreased,and the effect of LEF group was the most obvious.Conclusion LEF can inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors in RA synovial cells,inhibit HIF-1α signaling pathway,inhibit the expression of autophagy-related genes Beclin-1 and BNIP3,and improve the pathological state of synovitis.

Objective: To observe the effects of the tofacitinib on interstitial lung disease( ILD) by regulating the JAK⁃STAT signaling pathway. Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group , ILD group ,prednisone acetate group , and tofacitinib group. Except for the normal group , the other three groups were given 3mg/ml bleomycin solution for modeling. After 28 days of intragastric administration , the lung tissues of all rats were collected for hematoxylin⁃eosin staining ( HE) and Western blot ( WB) to detect the protein levels of JAK1 and STAT1;Enzyme⁃linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to detect tumor necrosis factor in rat serum (TNF) Ⅳ α , interleukin (IL) Ⅳ6 , IL⁃10 , IL⁃1β . Results : HE staining of lung tissue in ILD ,prednisone acetate group and tofacitinib group showed alveolar tissue thickening , alveolar wall capillary congestion , bronchial luminal epithelial cells shedding, and inflammatory cell exudation. The results of WB showed that JAK1 and STAT1 significantly increased in ILD group , and decreased in different degrees compared with ILD group , tofacitinib group and prednisone acetate group (P < 0. 05) . The ELISA results showed that the expressions of serum TNF⁃α , IL⁃6 and IL⁃1β in the ILD group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0. 01) . The expression of pine group decreased (P < 0. 05) , and the expression of IL⁃10 was the opposite. Conclusion Tofacitinib reduces lung tissue damage and the inflammatory response in the treatment of ILD by inhibiting the JAK⁃STAT pathway and down⁃regulating the expression of inflammatory factors TNF⁃α , IL⁃6 , IL⁃1β and up⁃regulating the anti⁃inflammatory factor IL⁃10.