[Paharmacological mechanisms of cellular immunity of overall alkali of tongbiling for the treatment of joint destruction].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of the overall alkali of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongbiling(TBL) which comprises brucine and strychnine alkaloids on collagen induced-arthritis(CIA) and study its paharmacological mechanisms of cellular immunity.


METHODS
Bovine CII was emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Wistar rats were injected with Type II collagen intradermally at the base of the tail. After swelling, CIA groups were, randomly divided into physiological saline group and treatment group. Then the swelling of the rats' hindlimbs was evaluated. The whole body of the rats treated on 35 th days was photographed by mammography X-Ray. 96 joints in erosion scoring system and 100 joints in joint spacing narrow(JSN) scoring system were used to observe the joint destruction of CIA from X-Ray comprehensively and objectively. After the rats were killed, the third proximal claw pad of the right hindlimb and left forelimb were stained by HE dying, Neutrophil, lymphocyte, plasmacyte infiltration and hyperplasia of synoviocytes were assessed. Then MTT and Western blot were used to determine the effect of the overall alkali of TBL on proliferation of Jurkat cells and ERK1/2 phosphorylation of Jurkat cells, respectively.


RESULTS
Inflammation of CIA joints was aggravated quickly. The swelling of CIA rats treated by MTX and overall alkali of TBL for 35 days was relieved (P<0.05). MTX and overall alkali of TBL inhibited the hyperplasia of synoviocytes. Overall alkali of TBL inhibited the infiltration of lymphocyteS and plasmacytes. Overall alkali of TBL inhibited the proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation of Jurkat cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall alkali of TBL could relieve joint inflammation and destruction of CIA rats by blocking the MAPK cell signalling pathway to inhibit the activation and proliferation of T cells. Our study might provide an experimental basis for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with overall alkali of TBL.
Chen
Guang-xing
GX
First Affiliated Hospital to Guangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Guangzhou 510405, China.
Tong
Juan
J
Liu
Qing-ping
QP
Shen
Xiao-yan
XY
Zhao
Shi-zhe
SZ
Zeng
Yao-ying
YY
Chen
Ji-fan
JF
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
D000470:Alkaloids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3