ABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the mechanism of Duanteng Yimu decoction （DTYM） in the inhibition of pannus formation in collagen-induced arthritis （CIA） mice. Method:Twenty-four SPF-grade DBA/1 male mice were randomly divided into the following four groups： a blank group （NC group）， a model group （CIA group）， a methotrexate group （MTX group）， and a DTYM group， with six mice in each group. The mice， except for those in the NC group， were modeled. From the second immunization， the medium， MTX （1 mg·kg<sup>-1</sup>）， and DTYM （15.4 g·kg<sup>-1</sup>） were administered at an equal volume by gavage for 35 days. Mice were observed for general condition and the arthritis index. The knee and ankle joints were scanned by microcomputed tomography （micro CT）. Hematoxylin-eosin （HE） and safranin O/fast green staining were performed to observe pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect the expression of platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 （CD31）， vascular endothelial growth factor-<italic>α</italic> （VEGF-<italic>α</italic>）， vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 （VEGFR2）， and phosphorylated（p）-VEGFR2. Result:Compared with the NC group， the CIA group showed red and swollen ankle joints， increased arthritis index scores （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， manifest injury in the knee and ankle joints， reduced cartilage thickness， elevated Micro CT bone destruction scores of knee and ankle joints （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， and up-regulated absorbance values of synovial CD31， VEGF-<italic>α</italic>， VEGFR2， and p-VEGFR2 （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the CIA group， the DTYM group showed relieved ankle joint redness and swelling， reduced arthritis index scores of mice three weeks after administration （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， intact joint surfaces of the knee and ankle joints， thickened cartilage， declining Micro CT bone destruction scores in both the knee and ankle joints （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， and lowered absorbance values of CD31， VEGF-<italic>α</italic>， VEGFR2， and p-VEGFR2 in the synovium （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:DTYM can inhibit the pannus formation in CIA mice presumedly by regulating the VEGF pathway.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of Duanteng Yimu decoction （DTYM） on the activation of the human umbilical vein endothelial cell （HUVEC） model and the effect on related activated proteins and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） signaling pathway. Method:After DTYM （200， 400 g·mL<sup>-1</sup>） treatment of HUVEC induced by VEGF and tumor necrosis factor-<italic>α</italic> （TNF-<italic>α</italic>）， cell proliferation， migration， and tubulogenesis were detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine （EdU） assay， transwell migration assay， phalloidin staining， and matrix gel card method. The mRNA expression of adhesion factors， including E-selectin， intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）， and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. The expression of von Willebrand factor （VWF）， platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-31 （CD31）， angiogenic factor cysteine-rich-61 （CYR61）， angiopoietin-1 （ANG-1）， VEGF， and VEGF receptor-2 （VEGFR2） was detected by Western blot. Immunofluorescence was used to determine CD31 expression. Result:Compared with the normal group， the model group showed potentiated proliferation， migration， and tubulogenesis of HUVEC （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， elevated mRNA expression of E-selectin， ICAM-1， and VCAM-1 （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of VWF， CD31， ANG-1， CYR61， VEGF-<italic>α</italic>， and phospho （p）-VEGFR2 （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic> P</italic><0.01）， and increased CD31 immunofluorescence intensity （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the model group， the DTYM groups displayed blunted proliferation， migration， and tubulogenesis of HUVEC （<italic>P</italic><0.05，<italic> P</italic><0.01）， decreased mRNA expression of E-selectin， ICAM-1， and VCAM-1 （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， down-regulated protein expression of VWF， CD31， ANG-1， CYR61， VEGF-<italic>α</italic>， and p-VEGFR2 （<italic>P</italic><0.05， <italic>P</italic><0.01）， and weakened CD31 immunofluorescence intensity （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:DTYM inhibits HUVEC proliferation， migration， adhesion， and tubulogenesis， which is associated with the regulation of CD31， VWF， CYR61， and ANG-1 expression in HUVEC and the VEGF signaling pathway.
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Objective::Duanteng Yimu decoction(DTYMD)is effective in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by relieving joint inflammation and down-regulating some inflammatory factors in a short period of time, but the mechanism is still unclear. We aimed to investigate upstream kinase of mitogen activated protein kinases(MAPK) and define the anti-inflammatory mechanism of DTYMD. Method::Fibroblasts-like synovial cells(FLSs) were divided into blank group, model group (IL-1β), high-dose DTYMD group (1 000 mg·L-1), medium-dose DTYMD group (800 mg·L-1), low-dose DTYMD group (600 mg·L-1) and armour ammonia butterfly(MTX) group (20 μmol·L-1). The protein and mRNA expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 2 (MEKK2) were analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(Real-time PCR). Totally 42 male DBA/1J mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, with 7 mice in each group, namely normal group, model group and MTX group (2 mg·kg-1), low-dose DTYMD group (6.25 mg·kg-1), medium-dose DTYMD group (12.5 mg·kg-1), and high-dose DTYMD group (25 mg·kg-1). Except for the normal group, the other five groups were included in collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) model by secondary immunoassay. After administration, the posterior limbs and ankle joints were stained with htoxylin-eosin(HE), and the pathological scores of the joints were evaluated. Result::Compared with the model group, DTYMD inhibited the activity of FLSs in a concentration-dependent manner (P<0.01). Compared with the blank control group, the cell proliferation rate of the model group increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, high and middle-dose DTYMD groups could inhibit protein and mRNA expressions of MEKK2 (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in low-dose group. However, the expression of DTYMD protein in high/medium/low-dose groups was significantly higher than that in blank group (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in MTX group. Compared with the model group, the expressions of matrix metalloprotease-1 (MMP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL)-6 were negatively regulated in different DTYMD groups(P<0.01), and the expressions of MMP-1, IL-6, TNF-α in the model group were significantly higher than those in the blank group (P<0.05, P<0.01). In the animal experiment, compared with the model group, high/middle-dose DTYMD groups could decrease the degree of joint swelling in CIA mice (P<0.01), but there was no significant difference in the low dose group, and the joint swelling in the model group was significantly higher than that in the blank group (P<0.05). In HE staining of ankle joint of CIA mice, the pathological scores of high/small-dose DTYMD groups were significantly lower those of model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the pathological score of model group was higher than that of blank group (P<0.01). Conclusion::DTYMD might down-regulate MEKK2 to negatively regulate inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and MMP-1, thereby alleviating the inflammatory response in rheumatoid arthritis.
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Objective:Computer network pharmacology technology was used to screen the main active ingredients of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix-Leonurus japonicus herba for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis(RA), predict the targets of the active ingredients, establish a pharmaceutical ingredient-active ingredient-target network, and further explore the potential mechanism of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix-Leonurus japonicus herba for the treatment of RA. Method:RA disease targets were collected through DisGeNET, TTD, and Drugbank databases, the potential active components of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix and Leonurus japonicus herba and their corresponding targets were obtained from the Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Analysis Platform (TCMSP); common targets for drugs and diseases were screened by using the ImageGP platform; a common target interaction (PPI) network model was constructed by using the String database, a "drug-active ingredient-key target" network was constructed by using Cytoscape software, a protein interaction network was constructed by using the String database, gene function (GO) analysis and pathway enrichment analysis based on the Kyoto Gene and Genomic Encyclopedia (KEGG) were performed by using the ClueGO plug-in. Result:Through screening, 9 active pharmaceutical ingredients were obtained, involving a total of 235 targets, and 7 active ingredients were related to the disease targets. 24 common targets for Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix Leonurus japonicus herba-disease were obtained. The common targets were mainly enriched in 278 biological processes and 141 signaling pathways to play a role in the treatment of RA. Conclusion:The therapeutic effect of Tripterygium hypoglaucum radix Leonurus japonicus herba on RA reflects the characteristics of multi-component-multi-target-multi-channel of traditional Chinese medicine, and provides a scientific basis for explaining its mechanism and clinical application of RA.
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Objective:To study the mechanism of Wulingsan (WLS) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by network pharmacology. Method:The active components of WLS were screened on traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology(TCMSP) platform, and the targets were predicted in DragBank database. The "component-target" network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.2.1 software. Disease targets were searched in TTD, DrugBank and DisGenet databases. The Venn diagram was built to extract the target of WLS in the treatment of RA, and the gene oesthetics(GO) function annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedin of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) signal pathway enrichment analysis were performed by cluego plugin. The TCM-component-target-pathway network of WLS was constructed, and the network feature analysis was made by Network Analyzer. Result:Totally 52 components and 297 potential targets in WLS and 1 845 targets relating to RA were excavated, and 49 common targets of WLS-RA were obtained. The common targets were mainly enriched in 322 biological processes and 31 signaling pathways. Conclusion:WLS may regulate targets, such as prostaglandin epoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), cysteine aspartate protein-3 (Caspase-3), transcription factor p65 (RELA), progesterone receptor (PGR), and adjust cancer-related pathways, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) signaling pathways, interleukin-17(IL-17) signaling pathways, nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB) signaling pathways, Th17 cell differentiation, so as to inhibit the inflammatory response, regulate immune function and adjust apoptosis to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
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Objective:Duanteng Yimutang(DTYMT) has a significant effect in treating rheumatoid arthritis, but its composition is complex and its mechanism is not clear. It is worthwhile to use network pharmacology approach to find active components, therapeutic targets and signal pathways of DTYMT. Method:The drug composition was selected according to the pharmacokinetic parameters in the pharmacology database, the analysis platform (TCMSP) and the TCM integrated database (TCMID) of the Traditional Chinese Medicine System. The drug and disease targets were excavated in the Drugbank database and the Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), and the drug-target-pathway network was constructed by network pharmacology tool Cytoscap, in order to explore the mechanism of the action of the components in the DTYMT. Result:It was found that 11 effective components of DTYMT could target 42 proteins in rheumatoid arthritis, such as interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2). Various pathways, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway, helper T cell 17 (Th17) differentiation pathway, rheumatic arthritis pathway, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway, osteoclast differentiation pathway, and ovarian steroid production pathway, were involved. Conclusion:DTYMT may be used to regulate inflammatory cytokines mainly through multiple inflammatory-related signal pathways, so as to play anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory roles in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of Kunxian Capsule (KXC) in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Randomized positive parallel controlled and multi-center open test method was adopted. 240 RA patients of mild/moderate degree were randomly assigned to three groups equally, i.e., KXC group (who took KXC), the methotrexate (MTX) group (who took MTX), and the KXC + MTX group (who took KXC and MTX simultaneously), respectively. The therapeutic course for them all was 12 weeks. The effect of the treatment was assessed in items of DAS28, ACR20, and ACR50; number of joints with pain and swelling; VAS score of pain, tiredness, and general condition; time of morning stiffness; bilateral grip strength; HAQ score, as well as blood levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibody, and platelet count.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>By the end of the 4th week, the improvement of ACR20, ACR50, DAS28 efficacy judgment, and DAS28 score in the KXC + MTX group were much better than those in the other two groups, with statistical difference (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 88. 6% and the markedly effective rate was 51.8% in the KXC + MTX group at the 12 th week. The Improvement was more obviously shown in all groups after treatment (all P<0.05). Better effects in reducing VAS scores of pain and tiredness were shown in the KXC group and the KXC + MTX group. The effects of KXC + MTX were superior to the other two groups in terms of swollen joint numbers, pain joints, grip strength (assessed by researcher), as well as VAS score of general condition and HAQ score (assessed by both patients and researcher, P<0.05). But the differences among groups in improving morning stiffness and the incidence rate of adverse events were in- significant.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>KXC could relieve symptoms, improve joint functions, physical signs, and laboratory indices of RA patients with less adverse reaction. It was synergistic with MTX.</p>