Abstract
BackgroundGout is initiated by the precipitation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within the joints and soft tissues, and it can eventually cause acute or chronic arthritis. MSU crystals trigger, amplify, and maintain a strong inflammatory response through promoting proinflammatory activity. In this study, the therapeutic effects of Stephania hainanensis (S. hainanensis) total alkaloid (SHA) were tested and evaluated on MSU-induced acute gouty arthritis in a mouse model.MethodsAfter oral administration of SHA (10 or 20 mg/kg) or the antigout medicine colchicine (0.5 mg/kg) once daily for 3 consecutive days, MSU crystals suspended in saline (2.5 mg/50 μl) were intradermally injected into the right paw of the mice. Then, SHA and colchicine were administered for another 2 days. During this period, swelling of the ankle and clinical scores were measured at 12, 24, and 48 h postinjection. After the mice were euthanized, inflammatory cytokine expression and paw tissue inflammation-related gene and protein expression, and a histopathological analysis was performed.ResultsSHA had obvious therapeutic effects on MSU-induced acute gouty arthritis in mice. SHA alleviated ankle swelling and inhibited the production of cytokines, such as IL-1β and TNF-α. In addition, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and IL-1β, which are activated by MSU were also suppressed by SHA. The histological evaluation showed that SHA relieved the infiltration of inflammation around the ankle.ConclusionsThese results suggest that SHA is capable of anti-inflammatory activities and may be useful for treating gouty arthritis.
Highlights
Gout is initiated by the precipitation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within the joints and soft tissues, and it can eventually cause acute or chronic arthritis
We examined the therapeutic effects of Stephania hainanensis total alkaloid (SHA) in the treatment of inflammation and pain responses in MSUinduced gouty arthritis in a mouse model and evaluated the involved mechanisms involved in its therapeutic effects
The ankle swelling and clinical score of MSU crystal injection were increased significantly and found to be alleviated after the treatment with SHA (20 mg/kg) and colchicine (0.5 mg/kg), as shown in Fig. 2b and c. These results suggest that MSU crystal-induced ankle swelling was suppressed by SHA
Summary
Gout is initiated by the precipitation of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within the joints and soft tissues, and it can eventually cause acute or chronic arthritis. The main cause of its acute phase is that monohydrate sodium urate (MSU) crystals are formed and deposited in the joint and periarticular tissues [4]. Colchicine is regularly used in the treatment of gout attacks, has specific clinical efficacy and inhibits neutrophil recruitment and infiltration [8]. These drugs might cause unwanted side effects, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, diarrhoea and vomiting [9]. We focused our research on the discovery of a drug with anti-inflammatory activity from natural resources
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