Abstract
BackgroundTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Bi-Qi capsule (Bi-Qi) is a commonly prescribed drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the mechanism of Bi-Qi-mediated amelioration of RA pathogenesis is still a mystery. Collagen induced arthritis (CIA) in rats is an established model that shares many similarities with RA in humans. In this study we investigated the effect of Bi-Qi on the pathogenesis of CIA in rats.MethodsCIA was developed in Sprague-Dawley (S.D) rats (n = 60, female) and used as a model resembling RA in humans. Rats were treated with a high or moderate dose of Bi-Qi, or methotrexate (MTX). Effects of the treatment on local joint and systemic inflammation, synovial hyperplasia, cartilage destruction, and other main features in the pathogenesis of CIA were analyzed.ResultsInflamed and swollen ankles and joints were observed in arthritic rats, while Bi-Qi or MTX treatment alleviated these symptoms. Only the Bi-Qi moderate dose decreased RA-induced serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Both Bi-Qi and MTX reduced the interleukin (IL)-18 serum level. Protein levels of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein and osteopontin in serum, synovium, and cartilage were elevated in arthritic rats, while Bi-Qi alleviated these effects. Synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration in synovium and a high degree of cartilage degradation was observed in RA, and Bi-Qi or MTX alleviated this effect. Bi-Qi at the moderate dose was the most effective in mitigating CIA-related clinical complications.ConclusionsOur findings showed that Bi-Qi alleviates CIA-induced inflammation, synovial hyperplasia, cartilage destruction, and the other main features in the pathogenesis of CIA. This provides fundamental evidence for the anti-arthritic properties of Bi-Qi and corroborates the use of Bi-Qi TCM formula for the treatment of RA.
Highlights
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Bi-Qi capsule (Bi-Qi) is a commonly prescribed drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
The moderate-dose Bi-Qi capsule alleviated arthritis-induced paw inflammation and joint swelling more effectively compared to the high dose Bi-Qi capsule (Fig. 1a, b)
The paw swelling rate at day 40, 41, and 42 was dramatically reduced in the Bi-Qi moderate dose group compared to the other groups tested (Fig. 1b)
Summary
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula Bi-Qi capsule (Bi-Qi) is a commonly prescribed drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we investigated the effect of Bi-Qi on the pathogenesis of CIA in rats. The Bi-Qi capsule is a TCM formula approved by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cervical spondylosis, scapulohumeral periarthritis, and knee osteoarthritis [1,2,3,4,5]. Tanshinone IIA sulfonic sodium, salvianolic acid B, glycyrrhizin, brucine, strychnine, cryptotanshinone, and liquiritin are major compounds present in Bi-Qi extract [6, 7]. Tanshinone IIA sulfonic sodium is a water-soluble extract from Radix et Rhizoma S. miltiorrhizae with a strong anti-osteoporotic property [8]. The mechanism of Bi-Qi-mediated amelioration of RA pathogenesis is still a mystery
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