Nitidine chloride inhibits fibroblast like synoviocytes-mediated rheumatoid synovial inflammation and joint destruction by targeting KCNH1

Magnoflorine Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritis by Suppressing the Inflammation Response via the NF-κB/MAPK Signaling Pathways

Objective

Magnoflorine (Mag) has been reported to have anxiolytics, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we aim to investigate the effects of Mag on the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the underlying mechanism using a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage inflammation model.

Methods

The in vivo effects of Mag on CIA were studied by inducing CIA in a mouse model using DBA/1J mice followed by treatment with vehicle, methotrexate (MTX, 1 mg/kg/d), and Mag (5 mg/kg/d, 10 mg/kg/d, and 20 mg/kg/d), and the in vitro effects of Mag on macrophages were examined by stimulation of RAW264.7 cells line and peritoneal macrophages (PMs) by LPS in the presence of different concentrations of Mag. Network pharmacology and molecular docking was then performed to predict the the binding ability between Mag and its targets. Inflammatory mediators were assayed by quantitative real-time PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Signaling pathway changes were subsequently determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

In vivo experiments demonstrated that Mag decreased arthritis severity scores, joints destruction, and macrophages infiltration into the synovial tissues of the CIA mice. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that Mag interacted with TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, and MCP-1. Consistent with this, analysis of the serum, synovial tissue of the CIA mice, and the supernatant of the cultured RAW264.7 cells and PMs showed that Mag suppressed the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1, iNOS, and IFN-β. Furthermore, Mag attenuated the phosphorylation of p65, IκBα, ERK, JNK, and p38 MAPKs in the synovial tissues of the CIA mice and LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

Conclusion

Mag may exert anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Nitidine chloride, a benzophenanthridine alkaloid from Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC., exerts multiple beneficial properties, especially in tumors and inflammation-related diseases

Plant-derived alkaloids are a kind of very important natural organic compounds. Nitidine chloride is one of the main active ingredients in Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. which is a frequently-used Chinese herbal medicine. Z. nitidum has many kinds of efficacy, such as activating blood circulation and removing stasis, promoting qi circulation and relieving pain, and detoxication and detumescence. In China, Z. nitidum is usually used for the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases, toothache, and traumatic injury. At present, there are numerous studies of nitidine chloride with regard to its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology, etc. However, a systematic, cutting-edge review of nitidine-related studies is extremely lacking. The present paper aimed at comprehensively summarizing the information on the extraction, separation and purification, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and formulation of nitidine chloride. The knowledge included in the present study were searched from the following academic databases involving Web of Science, PubMed, Google scholar, Elsevier, CNKI and Wanfang Data, till July 2022. In terms of nitidine chloride extraction, enzymatic method and ultrasonic method are recommended. Resin adsorption and chromatography were usually used for the separation and purification of nitidine chloride. Nitidine chloride possesses diversified therapeutical effects, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-colitis, anti-malaria, anti-osteoporosis, anti-rheumatoid and so on. According to pharmacokinetics, the intestinal absorption of nitidine chloride is passive diffusion, and it is rarely excreted with urine and feces in the form of prototype drug. Nitidine chloride has a moderate binding to plasma protein, which is independent of the drug concentration. As to toxicology, nitidine chloride showed certain toxicity on liver, kidney and heart. Certain new formulations, such as nanoparticle, microsphere and nano-micelle, could increase the therapeutic effect and decrease the toxicity of nitidine chloride. Despite limitations such as poor solubility, low bioavailability and certain toxicity, nitidine chloride is still a promising natural alkaloid for drug candidates. Extensive and intensive exploration on nitidine chloride is essential to promote the usage of nitidine-based drugs in the clinic practice.

Myricitrin inhibits fibroblast-like synoviocyte-mediated rheumatoid synovial inflammation and joint destruction by targeting AIM2

Objective: To explore the effect and underlying mechanism of Myricitrin (Myr) in regulating fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS)-mediated synovitis and joint destruction in RA.

Methods: FLSs were isolated from synovial tissues from patients with RA. Gene expression was measured using quantitative RT-qPCR. Protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry or Western blot. Cell apoptosis was performed by an Annexin-PI staining assay. EdU incorporation was used to assess the proliferation of RA FLS. Transwell assay was used to characterize the cell migration and invasion ability of RA FLS. The potential target of Myr was identified by RNA sequencing analysis. The in vivo effect of Myr was assessed in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model.

Results: Myr treatment inhibited the lamellipodia formation, migration, and invasion, but not the apoptosis and proliferation, of RA FLSs. Myr also reduced the expression of CCL2, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 induced by TNF-α. The RNA-seq results indicated that AIM2 may be a target gene of Myr in RA FLSs. Furthermore, compared to healthy controls, AIM2 expression showed higher levels in synovial tissues and FLSs from RA patients. AIM2 knockdown also inhibited RA FLS migration, invasion, cytokine, and MMP expression. In addition, either Myr treatment or AIM2 knockdown reduced the phosphorylation of AKT induced by TNF-α stimulation. Importantly, Myr administration relieved arthritis symptoms and inhibited AIM2 expression in the synovium of CIA mice.

Conclusion: Our results indicate that Myr exerts an anti-inflammatory and anti-invasion effect in RA FLSs and provide evidence of the therapeutic potential of Myr for RA.

Exosomes derived from fibrinogen-like protein 1-overexpressing bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a most common chronic joint disease belonging to inflammatory autoimmune disease. The aim of this study was to determine the role and mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived exosomes and fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1) overexpression exosomes shuttled by BMSCs (FGL1-Exos) on RA. All of the exosomes were visualized by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the characteristic proteins were detected by western blot. To investigate the therapeutic effect of FGL1-Exos, RA-FLSs were activated by TNF-α and RA rat model was established by collagen incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Cell viability, apoptosis, inflammation factors, and protein levels were detected by CCK-8, flow cytometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot, respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin and safranin O staining were used to detect the histopathology changes. Cell apoptosis and FGL1 expression in knee joint were detected by immunofluorescence. The results showed that FGL1-Exos could inhibit the cell viability meanwhile increase the cell apoptosis in RA-FLSs. Meanwhile, FGL1-Exos could effectively suppress the inflammation score, joint destruction, and inflammatory response in RA rat model. FGL1-Exos directly inhibited cell apoptosis of RA-FLSs and RA rat model by suppressing the inflammatory cytokines, specific rheumatoid markers, immunological markers meanwhile meditating the NF-κB pathway. Our results indicate that FGL1 was a therapeutic potential target in RA therapy.