ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanism of anti-death receptor 5-10 (AD5-10) combined with epirubicin in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We detected the cell viability of the fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients with MTT. The expression level of apoptosis signaling pathways protein, p53, and p21 were evaluated with Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>We found that epirubicin, at different doses, could enhance the effect of AD5-10 on FLS, promoting the apoptosis of FLS. The expression levels of caspase-3, -8, -9, c-FLIP, Bcl-2, p53, and p21 in the FLS changed after epirubicin treatment.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Epirubicin may coordinate with AD5-10 in inducing FLS apoptosis through affecting the levels of p53, p21, c-FLIP, and Bcl-2.</p>