title: Effect of triptolide on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand in rat adjuvant induced arthritis.
abstract: The effect of triptolide (TP) on the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) was explored in rat adjuvant induced arthritis (AA). AA was induced in Wistar rats. Arthritis rats were treated with TP and methotrexate (MTX) at the onset (day 9) of arthritis. On the peak of arthritis (day 24), the expression of RANKL and OPG protein in the joints and RANKL mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected. TNF-alpha and IL-1beta levels in peripheral blood were determined. Bone erosion scores were also evaluated. The results showed that bone erosion scores in TP and MTX groups were lower than in AA group (P < 0.01); The expression levels of RANKL in the synovium (P < 0.01) and bone (P < 0.05), and OPG level in synovium (P < 0.05) were lower in TP group than in AA group (P < 0.05). In TP group, the expression levels of RANKL mRNA and TNF-alpha, IL-1beta in PBMC were lower than in AA group (all P < 0.01). It was concluded that TP could inhibit rat adjuvant arthritis bone erosion by suppressing the expression of RANKL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Yonghong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Mingmin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shenghao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Keqing
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053245:RANK Ligand / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D053245:RANK Ligand; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C001899:triptolide; D008727:Methotrexate