Abstract
Aims. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of Er Miao San (EMS) and the regulative function of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) on adjuvant arthritis (AA) in rats. Methods. The ethyl acetate part of EMS (3 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg, and 0.75 g/kg) was orally administered from day 15 after immunization to day 29. The polyarthritis index and paw swelling were measured, the ankle joint pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and the spleen and thymus index were determined. Moreover, T and B cell proliferation were determined using the CCK-8 assay. The expression of BMDC surface costimulatory molecules and inflammatory factors were determined using flow cytometry and ELISA kits, respectively. Results. Compared with the AA model rats, the ethyl acetate fraction of EMS obviously reduced paw swelling (from 1.0 to 0.7) and the polyarthritis index (from 12 to 9)P<0.01and improved the severity of histopathologyP<0.01. The treatment using ethyl acetate fraction of EMS significantly reduced the spleen and thymus indexP<0.01and inhibited T and B cell proliferationP<0.01. Moreover, EMS significantly modulated the expression of surface costimulatory molecules in BMDCs, including CD40, CD80, CD86, and major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II)P<0.01. The results also showed that the ethyl acetate part of EMS significant inhibited the levels of proinflammatory cytokines interleukin- (IL-) 23 tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α and inflammatory factor prostaglandin (PG) E2 in the supernatant of BMDCs. However, the level of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly increasedP<0.01. Conclusion. These results suggest that the ethyl acetate part of EMS has better protective effects on AA rats, probably by regulating the function of BMDCs and modulating the balance of cytokines.
Highlights
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint synovial inflammation and cartilage damage [1]
Previous research has shown that Er Miao San (EMS) water extract has a therapeutic effect on adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats, significantly reducing the pathological index and paw swelling in rats with arthritis [12]
T-cell proliferation B-cell proliferation were the two parts of EMS treatment that had an effective effect on AA rats [8]. rough a comprehensive evaluation of the arthritic indicators, the ethyl acetate part of EMS might be an effective anti-inflammatory part
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by joint synovial inflammation and cartilage damage [1]. An abnormal proliferation of fibroblast synovial cells is a typical feature of RA, which is correlated with over-activated immune cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs). A large number of infiltrated DCs are highly involved in the synovium of RA patients and arise to the occurrence of arthritic disease. DCs highly express surface costimulatory molecules, including CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC-II, which present antigens to T-cells. Mature DCs can effectively activate the initial T cells, which are the center of initiation, regulation, and maintenance of immune responses [3]. Previous studies have confirmed the incidence and development of RA related to DCs. e synovial DCs of RA patients secrete chemokines and attract proinflammatory immune cells, including macrophages and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine neutrophil monocytes [4, 5]. The concentration of proinflammatory cytokines (IL1β, IL-6, and IL-23) and inflammatory factors (PGE2) in RA patients have increased [6, 7]. is is one of the key factors of RA pathogenesis
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