ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades on the expressions of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and IL-10 in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) cultured in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Primary cultured FLS isolated from the synovium of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were incubated in the presence of different concentrations (50, 150 and 450 microg/ml) of soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades, with Tripterygium hypoglaucum Hutch (THH) and DMEM as the positive and negative controls, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and RT-PCR were used to detect the expressions of IL-1beta, IL-10 and TNF-alpha in the FLS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The protein and mRNA levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in the supernatant of the FLS exposed to 150 and 450 microg/ml of the soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades decreased, while IL-10 protein and mRNA increased significantly as compared with those in the negative control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The soluble total proteins of Zaocys dhumnades produce therapeutic effect on RA possibly by inhibiting IL-1beta and TNF-alpha and promoting IL-10 expressions in the FLS.</p>