Effects of Qingluo Tongbi Granula on Proliferation of Fibroblast-like Synoviocytes and RANKL Expression in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients / 中药新药与临床药理

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of serum containing Qingluo Tongbi Granula (QTG) on proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS) and receptor activator of nuclear factor-?B ligand (RANKL) expression in FLS from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Methods Synovial specimens obtained from the joint of patients were minced into small pieces for the culture of FLS.The morphological features of FLS subcultrued for 3～5 generations were observed under inverted microscope and electron microscope.The effect of QTG-containing serum on the proliferation of FLS was examined by MTT assay.The expression of RANKL in FLS was assessed by RT-PCR.Results After cocultured by serum containing large-dose QTG for 72 hours,proliferation of FLS and expression of RANKL were inhibited.Conclusion QTG can inhibit FLS proliferation,and reduce the expression of RANKL,which may be one of the therapeutic mechanisms of QTG for rheumatoid arthritis.