Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Mechanism of a Lipid Extract from Hard-Shelled Mussel (Mytilus Coruscus) on Chronic Arthritis in Rats

Guipu Li,Duo Li,Yuanqing Fu,Jusheng Zheng

doi:10.3390/md12020568

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of a lipid extract from hard-shelled mussel (Mytilus coruscus) on adjuvant-induced (AIA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. AIA and CIA rats that received hard-shelled mussel lipid extract (HMLE group) at a dose of 100 mg/kg demonstrated significantly lower paw swelling and arthritic index, but higher body weight gain than those which received olive oil (control group). Similar results were found in arthritic rats that received New Zealand green-lipped mussel lipid extract (GMLE) at the same dosage. The levels of leukotriene B4 (LTB4), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in the serum, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, interferon-γ (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the ankle joint synovial fluids of HMLE group rats were significantly lower than those of control group. However, the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in HMLE group rats were significantly higher than those in the control group. Decreased mRNA expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) and MMP13, but increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) were observed in the knee joint synovium tissues of HMLE group rats when compared with the control group. No hepatotoxicity was observed in both HMLE and GMLE group rats. The present results indicated that HMLE had a similarly strong anti-inflammatory activity as GMLE. Such a strong efficacy could result from the suppression of inflammatory mediators (LTB4, PGE2, TXB2), pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, INF-γ, TNF-α) and MMPs (MMP1, MMP13), and the promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10) and TIMPs (TIMP1) productions.

Highlights

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints
The anti-inflammatory effects of hard-shelled mussel lipid extract (HMLE) on chronic arthritis were studied in AIA and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats
100 mg/kg had decreased IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), but increased IL-4 and IL-10 levels in the ankle joint synovial fluids compared with non-treated arthritic control rats. These results indicate that HMLE and green-lipped mussel lipid extract (GMLE) exert anti-inflammatory activities by the blockage of IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α production, and by the promotion of IL-4 and IL-10 production in the ankle joint synovial fluids of arthritic rats

Summary

Introduction

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints. RA affects between 0.5 and 1% of adults in the developed world with between 5 and 50 per 100,000 people newly developing the condition each year [1], while OA affects about 3.6% of the global population and nearly 27 million people in the United States [2]. The conventional therapeutic options employed in the management of RA and OA are analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but these options frequently produce suboptimal benefits and may be associated with serious gastrointestinal side effects [3]. Medical researchers are looking for safer, more effective alternatives to both the traditional analgesics and NSAIDs [4]

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