ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of sinomenine(SINO) on immune function of adjuvant arthritis(AA) rats.Methods SD rats were randomized into normal group,model group,SINO groups(treated with gastric gavage of SINO at the doses of 60,120 and 240 mg/kg respectively),and glucosides of Tripterygium Wilfordii(30 mg/kg) group.Except the normal group,the rats in other groups received subcutaneous injection of the complete Freund's adjuvant 0.1mL into the left hind foot to induce AA.The medication began from 12 days after the modeling and lasted 12 days.The pedal swelling and joint function scores were observed in different time.Radioimmunoassay was used to detect the contents of interleukin-1?(IL-1?) and tumor necrosis factor ?(TNF-?) in synovial cells.Expression of IL-1? and TNF-? mRNA was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) assay.Results SINO at different concentrations decreased the pedal swelling and arthritis scores to various degrees,inhibited the production of IL-1? and TNF-? in the synovial cells,reduced the expression of IL-1? and TNF-? mRNA,and recovered the normal histological features of synovial cells in AA rats.Conclusion The therapeutic mechanism of SINO for rheumatoid arthritis may be related with the inhibition of secretion of inflammatory mediators in synovial cells,and with the recovery of histological features of synovial cells.