Effect of Wasp Venom Extract on Collagen-induced Arthritis in Rats / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was successfully established to investigate the therapeutic effect of wasp venom extract on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) rats. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, positive control group (bee venom lyophilized powder for injection, 1.25 mg•kg-1) and low, medium and high dose (0.125, 0.25, 0.5 mg•kg-1) of wasp venom extract groups, in addition the normal group, the other group rats were induced by chicken type Ⅱ collagen and complete Freund′s adjuvant which was multi-point injected into the left hindfoot of rats, once every 7 d for 14 d. After successful modeling, the rats were given corresponding dose of drugs continuous administration for 14 d. The diameter and perimeter of the ankle joint and AI score of the rats were measured before modeling, on the 14th day of modeling and on the 14th of administration, respectively; The changes of organ index and HE staining in ankle tissue were observed. The contents of inflammatory factor (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, PGE-2, COX-2) and rheumatoid factors (IgG, IgA, IgM) in serum of rats were detected by ELISA. The changes of T lymphocyte subsets in spleen tissue of rats were detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the extract of wasp venom had significant inhibitory effect on joint swelling (diameter and perimeter) of CIA rats (P<0.01), The joint index scores of CIA rats was decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05). The organs index of rats restored to varying degrees (P<0.01 or P<0.05), to improved pathological structure of ankle joint, and decreased the expression of inflammatory and rheumatoid factors in serum of rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05), to regulate and improve the proportion of T lymphocyte subsets(P<0.01 or P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The extract of wasp venom has significant therapeutic effect on CIA rats, which is related to its regulation of inflammatory cytokine network and immunity.