Synovial Fluid of Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis Enhanced Osmotic Sensitivity Through the Cytotoxic Edema Module in Synoviocytes

Trans-anethole enhances mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes function to inhibit H2O2-induced rheumatoid arthritis-like inflammation in HIG-82 synovial cells

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an auto-immune inflammatory disorder for which an effective cure is yet to be found. Trans-anethole (1-methoxy-4-(1E)-1-propen-1-yl-benzene), a key bioactive compound derived from the perennial plant Foeniculum vulgare, exerts multiple medicinal benefits. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of exosomes derived from anethole-preconditioned human Wharton Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hWJMSCs) against RA-like inflammation in H2O2-treated synoviocyte HIG-82 cells.

METHODS

The fennel samples were prepared and trans-anethole was purified using LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. The MTT cell viability assays, hWJMSC derived exosomes, and expression analysis of cellular markers related to proliferation, stemness, apoptosis, and extracellular matrix (ECM)-degrading proteases were performed using Western blotting in HIG-82 cells.

RESULTS

The results showed that anethole treatment significantly increased cell viability and expression of the MSC marker CD90 in a dose-dependent manner in HIG-82 cells. Cell stemness markers, including proliferation markers cyclin-D, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and minichromosome maintenance complex component 2 (MCM2) were enhanced, whereas p53 and p21 were decreased by anethole. Exosomes derived from anethole-preconditioned hWJMSCs significantly improved the cell viability of H2O2-treated HIG-82 cells. Anethole- preconditioned exosomes decreased ECM-degrading proteases MMP-13, ADAMTS-2, -8, and -17, and AQP-3 expression more significantly than exosomes without preconditioned hWJMSC. Bcl-2 was increased, whereas Bax, Cyto c, and c-caspase 3 were decreased by preconditioned exosomes more prominently than exosomes from without preconditioned hWJMSCs in H2O2-treated HIG-82 cells.

CONCLUSION

Together, the study showed that exosomes derived from anethole-preconditioned hWJMSC have a greater potential to inhibit RA-like inflammation and apoptosis in H2O2-treated HIG-82 cells.

Osmolarity-Induced Altered Intracellular Molecular Crowding Drives Osteoarthritis Pathology

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial degenerative joint disease of which the underlying mechanisms are yet to be fully understood. At the molecular level, multiple factors including altered signaling pathways, epigenetics, metabolic imbalance, extracellular matrix degradation, production of matrix metalloproteinases, and inflammatory cytokines, are known to play a detrimental role in OA. However, these factors do not initiate OA, but are mediators or consequences of the disease, while many other factors causing the etiology of OA are still unknown. Here, it is revealed that microenvironmental osmolarity can induce and reverse osteoarthritis-related behavior of chondrocytes via altered intracellular molecular crowding, which represents a previously unknown mechanism underlying OA pathophysiology. Decreased intracellular crowding is associated with increased sensitivity to proinflammatory triggers and decreased responsiveness to anabolic stimuli. OA-induced lowered intracellular molecular crowding could be renormalized via exposure to higher extracellular osmolarity such as those found in healthy joints, which reverse OA chondrocyte's sensitivity to catabolic stimuli as well as its glycolytic metabolism.

Validation of antioxidant, antiproliferative, and in vitro anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of epigallo-catechin-rich bioactive fraction from Camellia sinensis var. assamica, Assam variety white tea, and its comparative evaluation with green tea fraction

The epigallocatechin-rich polyphenolic fraction of Assam variety white tea, traditionally used for the management of diverse inflammatory ailments and health drink, was investigated through eco-friendly green aqueous extraction, TLC, and HPLC characterization, phytochemical screening, in vitro DPPH assay, anti-proteinase, MTT assay on synovial fibroblast and colon cancer cells, apoptotic FACS analysis, cytokine ELISA, p-STAT3 western blotting, and in silico docking analysis. HPLC-TLC standardized white tea fraction (WT-F) rendered higher extractive-yield (21%, w/w), than green tea fraction(GT-F) (12%, w/w). WT-F containing flavonoids and non-hydrolysable polyphenols showed better antioxidant activity, rather than equivalent GT-F. WT-F demonstrated remarkable anti-rheumatoid-arthritis activity via killing of synovial fibroblast cells (66.1%), downregulation of TNF-α (93.33%), IL-6 (87.97%), and p-STAT3 inhibition (77.75%). Furthermore, WT-F demonstrated better anti-proliferative activity against colon cancer cells (HCT-116). Collectively, our study revealed that the white tea fraction has boundless potential as anti-rheumatoid arthritis and anti-proliferative agent coupled with apoptotic, antioxidant anti-proteinase, and anti-inflammatory properties. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Our eco-friendly extracted bioactive aqueous fraction of white tea, characterized by TLC-HPLC study and phytochemical screening have demonstrated remarkable anti-rheumatoid arthritis property and anti-proliferative action on colon cancer cells including potential anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proteinase efficacy. The test WT-F sample has shown impressive safety on normal mammalian cells. WT-F has demonstrated better efficacy against rheumatoid arthritis and cancer model compared to equivalent green tea fraction. Traditionally, it is extensively used for boosting immunity, and energy, with cosmetic, and agricultural applications by the native inhabitants. So, the aqueous fraction of WT is suggested to be used as a prophylactic nutraceutical supplement and or therapeutic agent in commercial polyherbal formulation to attenuate and management of auto-inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis and carcinogenesis of colon. It is additionally suggested to establish in vivo rheumatoid arthritis animal and clinical study to validate their pharmacokinetic stability and dose optimization coupled with anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, and anti-oxidant property.

Aquaporins: Unexpected actors in autoimmune diseases

Aquaporins (AQPs), transmembrane proteins allowing the passage of water and sometimes other small solutes and molecules, are involved in autoimmune diseases including neuromyelitis optica, Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Both autoantibodies against AQPs and altered expression and/or trafficking of AQPs in various tissue cell types as well as inflammatory cells are playing key roles in pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Detection of autoantibodies against AQP4 in the central nervous system has paved the way for a deeper understanding in disease pathophysiology as well as enabling diagnosis. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the roles of AQPs in autoimmune diseases.

A Cardioplegic Solution with an Understanding of a Cardiochannelopathy

Cardiac surgeries have been improved by accompanying developing cardioplegia solutions. However, the cardioplegia application presents an ongoing challenge with a view of a sufficiently restored cardiac function. In this review, we focus on the cardioplegia-induced mechanism and summarize the findings of studies undertaken to improve cardioprotective strategies. Currently, and somewhat surprisingly, relatively little is known about cardiac electrolyte regulation through channel physiology. We hope that an improved understanding of the electrolyte transport through ion channels/transporters and modulations of water channel aquaporins will provide an insight into cardiac channel physiology and a channel-based cardiac pathology of a cardiochannelopathy.