Inflammation suppression by dexamethasone via inhibition of CD147-mediated NF-κB pathway in collagen-induced arthritis rats.

Abstract

Dexamethasone (Dex) exhibits broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory effects in chronic destructive rheumatoid arthritis. We present in vivo and in vitro evidence supporting the preventive effects and underlying mechanisms of Dex on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA)-induced synovial injuries. After successful induction of CIA, Wistar rats were administered Dex intraperitoneally (1mg/kg) three times a week for more than 2weeks. In vivo, paw swelling, arthritis scores, and histological evaluations were analyzed to determine the therapeutic effects of Dex on the progression of arthritis. In vitro, CIA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) were treated for 48h with vehicle (control group), 10ng/mL IL-1α (IL-1α group), 10ng/mL IL-1α + 10μM Dex (Dex group), or 10ng/mL IL-1α + 10μg/mL anti-CD147 antibody (anti-CD147 group). Evaluations of FLSs proliferation, cell cycle, migration, gene expression of Cyclin D1, p27, p57, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, CD147, CypB, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), MMP-9, and MMP-13, ROS generation, protein expression of NF-κB and CD147, and translocation of NF-κB p65 were all conducted. The in vivo results showed that arthritis intensity was attenuated in the Dex-treated group. The in vitro findings demonstrated that treatment with Dex induced G0/G1 arrest and suppressed proliferation, migration, gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, CD147, CypB, MMP-3, MMP-9, and MMP-13, ROS generation and protein expression of NF-κB and CD147. Translocation of NF-κB p65 was inhibited by both Dex and anti-CD147 monoclonal antibody treatment. We offer molecular evidence of the anti-rheumatism efficacy Dex through hindrance to CD147, splendidly stabilization of the oxidative stress by downregulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.