Astilbin suppresses collagen-induced arthritis via the dysfunction of lymphocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the therapeutic effects of astilbin, a flavanoid isolated from Rhizoma Smilacis Glabrae, on arthritis and to compare it with cyclosporine A (CsA).


METHODS
Type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice and its in vitro assays for proliferation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and NO production were performed.


RESULTS
Astilbin dose-dependently inhibited the footpad swelling, arthritic incidence, and clinical scores without influencing the body weights, while CsA showed strong inhibition with a significant weight loss. Histological examination revealed marked inflammatory damage in arthritic mice including joint swelling, synovial hyperplasia, and cartilage destruction. Against these, an intact joint structure was maintained in astilbin-treated or CsA-treated mice. In isolated spleen cells from arthritic mice, increased potentials in proliferation, NO production, and MMP-2 and 9 activities were suppressed dose-dependently by the oral administration of astilbin. Additionally, astilbin showed neither any cytotoxicity to nor influence on Con A-induced proliferation of spleen cells from naive mice, while CsA showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and inhibition of the proliferation.


CONCLUSIONS
Astilbin may act as an efficient therapeutic agent for arthritis like CsA but with less toxicity. Its mechanism includes a selective suppression on lymphocyte functions via reducing MMP and NO production.
D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044948:Flavonols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D044948:Flavonols; D003208:Concanavalin A; C099069:astilbin; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D016572:Cyclosporine; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases