Clonorchis sinensis-Derived Protein Attenuates Inflammation and New Bone Formation in Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Helminth infections and their components have been shown to have the potential to modulate and attenuate immune responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential protective effects of Clonorchis sinensis-derived protein (CSp) on ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Cytotoxicity of CSp at different doses was assessed by MTS and flow cytometry before performing experiments. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) were obtained from AS patients. Inflammatory cytokine-producing cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The levels of INF- γ , IL-17A, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). SKG mice were treated with CSp or vehicles. Inflammation and new bone formation were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, positron emission tomography (PET), and micro-computed tomography (CT). Treatment with CSp resulted in no reduced cell viability of PBMCs or SFMCs until 24 h. In experiments culturing PBMCs and SFMCs, the frequencies of IFN- γ and IL-17A producing cells were significantly reduced after CSp treatment. In the SKG mouse model, CSp treatment significantly suppressed arthritis, enthesitis, and enteritis. Micro-CT analysis of hind paw revealed reduced new bone formation in CSp-treated mice than in vehicle-treated mice. We provide the first evidence demonstrating that CSp can ameliorate clinical signs and cytokine derangements in AS. In addition, such CSp treatment could reduce the new bone formation of AS.

STAT3 phosphorylation inhibition for treating inflammation and new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: AS is a rheumatic disease characterized by chronic inflammation and bony ankylosis. This study was to evaluate whether a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 phosphorylation inhibitor (stat3-p Inh) could treat both chronic inflammation and bone formation in AS. METHODS: Primary AS osteoprogenitor cells and spinal entheseal cells were examined for osteogenic differentiation. SF mononuclear cells (SFMCs) and lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs) were obtained from AS patients. Inflammatory cytokine-producing cells were analysed using flow cytometry and ELISA. Female SKG mice were treated with stat3-p Inh, IL-17A blocker or vehicle. Inflammation and new bone formation were evaluated using immunohistochemistry, PET and micro-CT. RESULTS: In the SKG mouse model, stat3-p Inh significantly suppressed arthritis, enthesitis, spondylitis and ileitis. In experiments culturing SFMCs and LPMCs, the frequencies of IFN-γ-, IL-17A- and TNF-α-producing cells were significantly decreased after stat3-p Inh treatment. When comparing current treatments for AS, stat3-p Inh showed a comparable suppression effect on osteogenesis to Janus kinase inhibitor or IL-17A blocker in AS-osteoprogenitor cells. Stat3-p Inh suppressed differentiation and mineralization of AS-osteoprogenitor cells and entheseal cells toward osteoblasts. Micro-CT analysis of hind paws revealed less new bone formation in stat3-p Inh-treated mice than vehicle-treated mice (P = 0.005). Hind paw and spinal new bone formation were similar between stat3-p Inh- and anti-IL-17A-treated SKG mice (P = 0.874 and P = 0.117, respectively). CONCLUSION: Stat-3p inhibition is a promising treatment for both inflammation and new bone formation in AS.

Serum miR-214 as a novel biomarker for ankylosing spondylitis.

OBJECTIVE: Serum microRNA (miR) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients has been rarely identified. The objective of this study was to find AS-specific miR in sera of patients with AS. METHODS: Total RNAs were isolated from whole sera of patients with AS, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and healthy controls (HC) using miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Kit. The presence of miR was assayed using Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer Small RNA assay. Each RNA sample was used for miR microarray. To verify microarray results, candidate circulating miRs were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using samples from patients with AS (n = 65), patients with RA (n = 25), and HCs (n = 39). Cycle threshold values were converted to copy numbers by drawing a standard curve using a synthetic chemical standard. All clinical values were also evaluated at the time of miR isolation. RESULTS: A total of 887 miRs were screened for three groups. Lower expression of miR-214 in AS than in HC and RA was observed after normalization of raw data. Finally, lower expression of serum miR-214 was confirmed in AS after validation by qPCR. Correlation analysis showed that the level of miR-214 of AS was significantly associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score-C-reactive protein (r = 0.299, P = 0.02). However, other disease-specific variables showed no statistical significance: gender (P = 0.286), peripheral arthritis (P = 0.634), enthesitis (P = 0.464), dacylitis (P = 0.750), psoriasis (P = 0.552), inflammatory bowel disease (P = 0.369), human leukocyte antigen-B27 positivity (P = 0.473), use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (P = 0.448), and use of tumor necrosis factor-blocker in the last 3 months (P = 0.505). CONCLUSION: miR-214 may serve as a noninvasive biomarker for diagnosis of AS. In addition, expression level of miR-214 was associated with disease activity.

Anti-neuroinflammatory effects of galangin in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia through regulation of IL-1ß production and the NF-κB signaling pathways.

Neuroinflammation resulting from microglial activation is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's diseases. Microglial activation plays an important role in neuroinflammation and contributes to several neurological disorders. Hence, inhibition of both microglial activation and the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines may lead to an effective treatment for neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of galangin were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Galangin significantly decreased the generation of nitric oxide, interleukin-1ß, and inducible nitric oxide synthase in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. In addition, galangin inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1/2. Furthermore, it was observed that activation of both IκB-α and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was significantly increased following LPS stimulation, and this effect was suppressed by galangin treatment. In conclusion, galangin displayed an anti-neuroinflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Galangin inhibited LPS-induced neuroinflammation via the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways and might act as a natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of various neuroinflammatory conditions.

Anti-inflammatory effects of galangin on lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages via ERK and NF-κB pathway regulation.

Inflammation is the major symptom of the innate immune response to microbial infection. Macrophages, immune response-related cells, play a role in the inflammatory response. Galangin is a member of the flavonols and is found in Alpinia officinarum, galangal root and propolis. Previous studies have demonstrated that galangin has antioxidant, anticancer, and antineoplastic activities. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of galangin are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of galangin on RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Galagin was not cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 cells, and nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages was significantly decreased by the addition of 50 µM galangin. Moreover, galangin treatment reduced mRNA levels of cytokines, including IL-1ß and IL-6, and proinflammatory genes, such as iNOS in LPS-activated macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. Galangin treatment also decreased the protein expression levels of iNOS in activated macrophages. Galangin was found to elicit anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting ERK and NF-κB-p65 phosphorylation. In addition, galangin-inhibited IL-1ß production in LPS-activated macrophages. These results suggest that galangin elicits anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-activated macrophages via the inhibition of ERK, NF-κB-p65 and proinflammatory gene expression.