Effect of Qubi Zhentong Recipe (祛痹镇痛方) on synovial gene expression in collagen-induced arthritis in rats

Abstract

To investigate the effect of the Chinese medical formula Qubi Zhentong Recipe(, QZR) on the synovial gene expression profile in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Ten rats were randomly chosen from 60 rats as the control group, and the other 50 rats were used for the CIA models. The CIA model group was constructed by bovine injection of type II collagen through the rats' neck and tail. Twenty rats were randomly chosen from 34 successful CIA models and randomly assigned into two groups: the model group (n =10) and the QZR group (n=10). The QZR group was fed intragastrically with QZR 22.9 g/(kg·d) (10 times the clinical adult dose), and the CIA model group was given the same dose of normal saline. Both model and QZR groups were administered treatment once a day. Total RNA was collected from the knee joint synovium after 30 days. The change in gene expression profile was analyzed by a whole gene chip. A total of 76 genes showed a difference in expression between CIA model group and the control group; 35 genes were down-regulated and 41 were up-regulated. A total of 67 genes showed a difference in expression between the model group and the QZR group; 48 genes were down-regulated and 19 were upregulated. QZR may affect CIA by stimulating multiple genes and targets, which are related to oncogenes, apoptosis, metabolism, the immune system, ion channels, and transport proteins.