Paeoniflorin,the Main Monomer Component of Paeonia lactiflora,Exhibits Anti-inflammatory Properties in Osteoarthritis Synovial Inflammation

Objective:To explore the mechanism of paeoniflorin(PF)on osteoarthritis(OA)synovial inflammation from network pharmacology to experimental pharmacology.Methods:Targets of OA were constructed by detecting the database of network database platforms(Therapeutic Target database,Drug Bank and Gene Cards),and the targets of PF were constructed by Pub Chem and Herbal Ingredients'Targets database.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis of these co-targeted genes were conducted via Database for Annotation,Visualization,and Integrated Discovery(DAVID)database,and protein-protein interaction(PPI)networks were conducted via the search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes(STRING)database.Cell counting kit-8(CCK-8)assay was performed to assess the potential toxicity of PF on human OA fibroblast-like synoviocytes(FLS),quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction(q PCR),enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)and Western blot were used to verify the potential mechanism of PF in synovial inflammation.Results:Twenty-six co-targeted genes were identified.GO enrichment results showed that these co-targeted genes were most likely localized in the cytoplasm,and the biological processes mainly involved'cellular response to hypoxia''lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-mediated signaling pathway'and'positive regulation of gene expression'.KEGG pathway analysis indicated that these co-targeted genes may function through pathways associated with'hypoxia-inducible factor-1(HIF-1)signaling pathway'and'tumornecrosis factor(TNF)signaling pathway'.The PPI network showed that the top 3 hub genes were TP53,TNF,and CASP3.Molecular docking results showed that PF was well docking with TNF.CCK-8 showed no potential toxicity of 10,20 and 50μmol/L PF on human OA FLS.And PF significantly decreased the expression levels of interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,TNF-αmatrix metalloproteinase 13(MMP13),and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5(ADAMTS5)and TNF-αin LPS-induced OA FLS.Conclusion:PF exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effect in OA synovial inflammation.

Kunxian Capsule Extract Inhibits Angiogenesis in Zebrafish Embryos via PI3K/AKT-MAPK-VEGF Pathway

Objective: To investigate the anti-angiogenic activity of Kunxian Capsule(KX) extract and explore the underlying molecular mechanism using zebrafish. Methods: The KX extract was prepared with 5.0 g in 100 mL of 40% methanol followed by ultrasonication and freeze drying. Freeze dried KX extract of 10.00 mg was used as test stock solution. Triptolide and icariin, the key bioactive compounds of KX were analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. The transgenic zebrafish Tg(flk1:GFP) embryos were dechorionated at 20-h post fertilization(hpf) and treated with PTK 787, and 3.5, 7, 14 and 21 μg/m L of KX extract, respectively.After 24-h post exposure(hpe), mortality and malformation(%), intersegmental vessels(ISV) formation, and m RNA expression level of angiogenic pathway genes including phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K), protein kinase B(AKT),extracellular signal-regulated kinases(ERKs), mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK), vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor(FGF-2) were determined. Further, the embryos at 72 hpf were treated with KX extract to observe the development of sub-intestinal vein(SIV) after 24 hpe. Results: The chromatographic analysis of test stock solution of KX extract showed that triptolide and icariin was found as 0.089 mg/g and 48.74 mg/g, respectively, which met the requirements of the national drug standards. In zebrafish larvae experiment, KX extract significantly inhibited the ISV(P<0.01) and SIV formation(P<0.05). Besides, the m RNA expression analysis showed that KX extract could significantly suppress the expressions of PI3K and AKT,thereby inhibiting the m RNA levels of ERKs and MAPK. Moreover, the downstream signaling cascade affected the expression of VEGF and its receptors(VEGFR and VEGFR-2). FGF-2, a strong angiogenic factor, was also downregulated by KX treatment in zebrafish larvae. Conclusion: KX extract exhibited anti-angiogenic effects in zebrafish embryos by regulating PI3K/AKT-MAPK-VEGF pathway and showed promising potential for RA treatment.

Expression of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase Ⅰ in a surgically-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritic synovitis

Background There are few reports of a biological role for glycosyltransferases in the infiltration of osteoarthritic synovitis. The aim of this research was to investigate the expression and cellular location of β-1,4-galactosyltransferase Ⅰ （β-1,4-GaIT-Ⅰ） in a surgically-induced rat model of knee osteoarthritis （OA）, and explore the role of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ in the pathogenesis of OA.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups： OA group, sham group and normal group. The model of OA was established in the right knees of rats by anterior cruciate ligament transaction （ACLT） with partial medial meniscectomy. Fibroblast-like synoviocytes （FLSs） obtained from normal rat synovial tissue were cultured.The expression of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ mRNA in the synovial tissue, articular cartilage and FLSs treated with tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） were assayed by real-time PCR. Western-blotting and immunohistochemisty were used to observe the expression of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ at the protein level. Double immunofluorescent staining was used to define the location of the β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ with macrophage-like synoviocytes, FLSs, neutrophils, and TNF-α in the OA synovium. The alteration of TNF-α in FLSs which were treated with lipopolysaccharide （LPS） and β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ-Ab were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）.Results The mRNA and protein expression of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ increased in synovial tissue of the OA group compared with the normal and sham groups at two and four weeks after the surgery, however, no significant difference appeared in the articular cartilage. Immunohistochemistry also indicated that the β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ expression in OA synovium at four weeks after surgery increased sharply compared with the control group. β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ co-localized with macrophage-like synoviocytes, FLSa, neutrophils and TNF-α in rat OA synovitis. Moreover, in vitro β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ mRNA in FLSs was affected in a dose- and time-dependent manner in response to TNF-α stimulation. ELISA revealed that the expression of TNF-α was attenuated in FLSs in vitro when treated with anti β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ antibody.Conclusion β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ may play an important role in the inflammation process of rat OA synovial tissue which would provide the foundation for further researching into the concrete mechanism of β-1,4-GalT-Ⅰ in OA synovitis.

Anti-inflammatory effects of aucubin in cellular and animal models of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA)is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease.It is known that aucubin(AU)exerts anti-inflammatory activity,but its effects and mechanisms in RA are unclear.This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of AU in vivo and in vitro.Human fibroblast-like synoviocyte cells from patients with RA(HFLS-RA),RAW264.7 cells,and MC3T3-E1 cells were used to evaluate the effects of AU on migration,invasion,apoptosis,osteoclast differentiation and production.Immunofluorescence was used to observe nuclear translocation of nuclear factor(NF)-/cB,the double luciferase reporter gene method was used to observe NF-/cB-p65 activity in AU-treated MC3T3-E1 cells.RT-qPCR was used to measure expression of bone metabolism and inflammation-related genes,and western blot was used to measure bone metabolism and NF-a:B protein expression levels.Collagen-induced arthritis(CIA)rat model was used for pharmacodynamics study.Arthritis indexes were measured in the ankle and knee,histological staining and Micro-computed tomography were performed on the ankle joints.Also,inflammatory factor gene expression and the levels of NF-/cB-related proteins were detected as in vitro.AU effectively inhibited HFLS-RA cell migration and invasion,promoted apoptosis,and inhibited RAW264.7 cell differentiation into osteoclasts,as well as inhibited NF-/cB-p65 activity in MC3T3-E1 cells.Notably,AU significantly reduced the gene expression levels of three cell-related inflammatory factors and bone metabolism factors,effectively inhibited the expression of p-lKKafi,p-lA:Ba,and p-p65 proteins.In vivo,AU relieved joint inflammation,reduced related inflammatory factors,and inhibited NF-/cB signaling.It could be used to treat RA-related synovial inflammation and bone destruction through the NF-/cB pathway.