Blimp1 suppressed CD4+ T cells-induced activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes by upregulating IL-10 via the rho pathway.

BACKGROUND: B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp1) is a risk allele for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its functional mechanism in RA remains to be further explored. METHODS: Flow cytometry was performed to detect CD4+ T cell differentiation. ELISA was used to measure inflammatory factor secretion. Lentivirus mediated Blimp1 overexpression vector (LV-Blimp1) or short hairpin RNA (sh-Blimp1) were used to infect CD4+ T cells stimulated by anti-CD28 and anti-CD3 mAbs. RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) were co-cultured with CD4+ T cells or T cell conditioned medium (CD4CM), and cell proliferation, invasion, and expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines in FLSs were evaluated. Mice were injected intradermally with type II collagen to establish a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model, and the severity of CIA was evaluated with H&E and Safranin-O staining. RESULTS: Blimp1 knockdown increased pro-inflammatory factor secretion, but downregulated IL-10 concentration in activated CD4+ T cells. Blimp1 overexpression promoted regulatory T cells (Treg) CD4+ T cell differentiation and hindered T helper 1 (Th1) and T helper 17 (Th17) CD4+ T cell differentiation. Blimp1 overexpression suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory factors and adhesion molecules in CD4+ T cells by upregulating IL-10. Moreover, Blimp1 overexpression impeded the enhanced effect of CD4+ T cells/CD4CM on cell adhesion, inflammation, proliferation, invasion and RhoA and Rac1 activities in FLSs by upregulating IL-10. Additionally, administration with LV-Blimp1 alleviated the severity of CIA. CONCLUSION: Blimp1 restrained CD4+ T cells-induced activation of FLSs by promoting the secretion of IL-10 in CD4+ T cells via the Rho signaling pathway.

Total glucosides of paeony protects THP-1 macrophages against monosodium urate-induced inflammation via MALAT1/miR-876-5p/NLRP3 signaling cascade in gouty arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Monosodium urate (MSU)-mediated inflammatory response is a crucial inducing factor in gouty arthritis. Here, we explored the underlying mechanism of total glucosides of paeony (TGP) in MSU-induced inflammation of THP-1 macrophages in gouty arthritis. METHODS: 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect cell viability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to measure the production of interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assay were conducted to determine RNA and protein expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and RNA pull down assay were used to confirm the interaction between miR-876-5p and MALAT1 or NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3). RESULTS: MSU-induced damage and inflammatory response in THP-1 macrophages were alleviated by the treatment of TGP in a dose-dependent manner. Overexpression of NLRP3 or MALAT1 reversed the protective effects of TGP in MSU-induced THP-1 macrophages. The binding relation between miR-876-5p and MALAT1 or NLRP3 was identified in THP-1 macrophages. MALAT1 up-regulated the expression of NLRP3 by sponging miR-876-5p in THP-1 macrophages. TGP suppressed MSU-induced inflammation in THP-1 macrophages through regulating MALAT1/miR-876-5p/NLRP3 axis. TGP suppressed MSU-induced activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway through regulating MALAT1/miR-876-5p/NLRP3 axis. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, TGP suppressed MSU-induced inflammation in THP-1 macrophages through regulating MALAT1/miR-876-5p/NLRP3 axis and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, suggesting that TGP was a promising active ingredient for gouty arthritis treatment.