title: Scorpio and Scolopendra attenuate inflammation and articular damage in rats with collagen-induced arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scorpio and Scolopendra (SS) are two traditional Chinese medicines, which are generally used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China. However, the mechanism is so far unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects and mechanisms of SS in attenuating inflammation and joint injury in collagen-induced arthritis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  RA was induced in Wistar rats by injection of collagen, meanwhile, the rats were administrated daily either SS (0.4 g/kg, 0.2 g/kg, and 0.1 g/kg) or vehicle (physiological saline) for 42 days. The therapeutic effect of SS on RA was evaluated by pathological methods. T lymphocyte subsets and anti-collagen type II (CII) antibody were tested in peripheral blood. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were assessed in tissue homogenate of fresh joints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The inflammation and articular damage in SS powder-treated rats were attenuated significantly. In addition, SS powder was revealed to modulate the equilibrium of T lymphocyte subsets, down-regulate TNF-α and IL-1β, up-regulate IL-4 and IL-10, and significantly suppress the level of anti-CII antibody.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scorpio and Scolopendra, when used as a combination, reveal desirable effect for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, and this beneficial effect may be accomplished through normalization of T lymphocyte subsets and the balance of Th1/Th2 cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China. liuduanyong@163.com
authors.forename: Duan-Yong
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hai-Mei
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shao-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Xiao-Ying
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Zhi-Qin
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Yong-Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Hong-Ning
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ai-Ping
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000276:immunology; D000077743:Diterpene Alkaloids; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011208:Powders; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000906:Antibodies; D024043:Collagen Type II; D000077743:Diterpene Alkaloids; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D011208:Powders; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C574918:scorpio; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; C574917:scolopendra alkaloids