ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of sinomenine, a traditional Chinese medicine monomer, on the expression of in vitro cultured CD80mRNA and CD86mRNA in dendritic cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 10 patients with RA were divided into sinomenine (high, medium and low concentrations) groups and blank control group and costimulated by recombinant human GM-CSF and recombinant human interleukin-4 (rhIL-4). The expressions of CD80 mRNA and CD86mRNA were detected by semi-quantitation reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: As compared to the control group, the expressions of CD80 mRNA and CD86mRNA in dendritic cells intervened by sinomenine (high, medium and low concentrations, respectively) (P