title: Inhibitory effects of a traditional Chinese herbal formula TBL-II on type II collagen-induced arthritis in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  TBL-II is the water extract of an anti-arthritic Chinese herbal formula Tongbiling (TBL), which has been used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for many years. We herein aimed to confirm its anti-arthritic effect and explore the potential mechanism of action on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four weeks after the first collagen immunization, mice were treated with TBL-II orally at a lower dose of 100mg/kg/d and higher dose of 300 mg/kg/d for 2 or 8 weeks. The severity of arthritis was evaluated by symptoms, radiological scores and histological assessment. Levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and IgG2a type anti-collagen II (CII) antibody in serum were measured by ELISA. Competitive RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis were used to investigate MMP-2, -3, -9 mRNA and protein expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results revealed treatment with higher dose of TBL-II for 2 weeks attenuated significantly acute inflammation, and decreased the amounts of IL-1β and TNFα in serum; treatment for 8 weeks could obviously suppress chronic inflammation, ameliorate cartilage and bone destruction, and reduce the levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, -3, -9 mRNA and protein expression in joints. The levels of IgG2a type anti-CII antibody in serum were significantly reduced by treatment with higher dose of TBL-II for either 2 or 8 weeks. In contrast, treatment with lower dose of TBL-II for 8 weeks had no effect on articular destruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that TBL-II at higher dose not only ameliorated symptoms but also modified disease of CIA. TBL-II would be a potent candidate as a novel botanical drug for further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 132, Wai Huan East Road, College Town, Guangzhou, China. shxiaoy@mail.sysu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Cuixian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Huifang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Songhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jifan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Weixing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D024043:Collagen Type II; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008517:Phytotherapy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D024043:Collagen Type II; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases