Study on Anti-synovial Angiogenesis Mechanism of Licorice and Aconite Decoction in the Treatment of Adjuvant Arthritis Model Mice / 中国药房

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the therapeutic effect of Licorice and aconite decoction in the treatment of adjuvant arthritis （AA） model mice through anti-synovial angiogenesis pathway. METHODS： Totally 48 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into normal group， model group， Licorice and aconite decoction group and tripterygium glycosides group （positive drug group）， with 12 mice in each group. Except for normal group， AA model was established by intradermal injection of Freund’s complete adjuvant into the left hind toe of mice. 12 d after modeling， normal group and model group were given same volume of water intragastrically； Licorice and aconite decoction group （7.8 g/kg，by total amount of crude drug） and tripterygium glycosides group （0.01 g/kg） were given relevant medicine 20 mL/kg intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 18 d. The joint lesions of mice were observed and recorded， and the foot swelling degree of mice was measured by water volume method. HE staining was used to observe the pathological change of ankle joint in mice. The protein levels of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 （CD31） and vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） were determined by immunofluorescence assay. The protein expressions of nuclear factor κB（NF-κB） and zinc finger transcription factor GATA4 （GATA4） were detected by Western blotting assay. RESULTS： Compared with normal group， ankle joint of model group mice was markedly reddened and swollen， and foot swelling degree increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Synovial tissue of ankle joint proliferated， pannus increased significantly， and a large number of inflammatory cells and joint erosion were observed. The protein expression of CD31， VEGF， NF-κB and GATA4 in synovial tissue of mice were increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with model group， the redness and swelling of ankle joint in mice were alleviated， and the foot swelling degree was significantly reduced in Licorice and aconite decoction group （P＜0.05）. Pannus in synovial tissue decreased and other pathological symptoms were improved. The protein expression of CD31， VEGF， NF-κB and GATA4 were decreased significantly in synovial tissue （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS： Licorice and aconite decoction can decrease the protein expression of VEGF，NF-κB and GATA4 in synovial tissue， reduce the generation of pannus in synovial tissue and effectively inhibit the angiogenesis in synovial tissue so as to prevent bone destruction and protect joint of AA model mice.