Abstract
Background. Wutou decoction (WTD) has been wildly applied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and experimental arthritis in rats for many years. Epigenetic deregulation is associated with the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis; however, the effects of WTD on epigenetic changes are unclear. This study is set to explore the effects of WTD on DNA methylation and histone modifications in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Methods. The CIA model was established by the stimulation of collagen and adjuvant. The knee synovium was stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and methylated CpG binding domain 2 (MBD2) expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by Real-Time PCR. The global DNA histone H3-K4/H3-K27 methylation and total histones H3 and H4 acetylation of PBMCs were detected. Results. Our data demonstrated that the DNMT1 mRNA expression was significantly lowered in group WTD compared to that in group CIA (P < 0.05). The DNA methylation level was significantly reduced in group WTD compared to that in group CIA (P < 0.05). Moreover, H3 acetylation of PBMCs was overexpressed in WTD compared with CIA (P < 0.05). Conclusions. WTD may modulate DNA methylation and histone modifications, functioning as anti-inflammatory potential.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology which is characterized by swelling, pain, stiffness, and deformity of peripheral joints [1]
Clinical studies demonstrated that Wutou decoction (WTD) which was described in a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monograph Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber in Han Dynasty of China has been wildly applied for the treatment of RA [12], sciatica [13], and scapulohumeral periarthritis [14]
The DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) mRNA expression was significantly lowered in group WTD compared to that in group collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) (P < 0.05) (Figure 3(a))
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown aetiology which is characterized by swelling, pain, stiffness, and deformity of peripheral joints [1]. The predominant epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling. Wutou decoction (WTD) has been wildly applied in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and experimental arthritis in rats for many years. Epigenetic deregulation is associated with the aetiology of rheumatoid arthritis; the effects of WTD on epigenetic changes are unclear. This study is set to explore the effects of WTD on DNA methylation and histone modifications in rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) and methylated CpG binding domain 2 (MBD2) expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by Real-Time PCR. Our data demonstrated that the DNMT1 mRNA expression was significantly lowered in group WTD compared to that in group CIA (P < 0.05). The DNA methylation level was significantly reduced in group WTD compared to that in group CIA (P < 0.05). WTD may modulate DNA methylation and histone modifications, functioning as anti-inflammatory potential
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