A mixture of Trachelospermi caulis and Moutan cortex radicis extracts suppresses collagen-induced arthritis in mice by inhibiting NF-κB and AP-1.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to determine the anti-arthritis effect and its mechanism of a combination of herbal extracts from Trachelospermi caulis (TC) and Moutan cortex radicis (MC) (TCMC).


METHODS
The anti-arthritis activity of TCMC was assessed using a mouse model of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and other biological assays were performed.


RESULTS
TCMC significantly ameliorated various inflammatory parameters, such as clinical arthritis index, histological deformation of joints, serum levels of rheumatoid arthritis biomarkers (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, serum amyloid P and anti-collagen type II IgG antibody), and Th1-related responses (T cell proliferation, and production of Interferon-γ and interleukin (IL)-2 in splenocytes isolated from CIA mice). The production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted) was suppressed by TCMC in CIA mice. In addition, the number of osteoclasts in the hind tibia was significantly decreased. With regard to the mechanism, TCMC suppressed the activation of the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-κB and activator protein (AP)-1.


CONCLUSIONS
TCMC exerts an anti-arthritis effect in CIA mice by suppression of the production of various inflammatory factors and the formation of osteoclasts through the inhibition of NF-κB and AP-1 activation.
College of Medicine and Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.
Hyuk Soon
HS
Kim
A-Ram
AR
Kim
Jeong Min
JM
Lee
Se Na
SN
Kim
Jung Ho
JH
Choi
Do Kyun
DK
Kim
Ji Hyung
JH
Kim
Bokyung
B
Kim
Erk
E
Her
Young Mok
YM
Yang
Hyung Sik
HS
Kim
Young Mi
YM
Kim
Wahn Soo
WS
Choi
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000187:drug effects; D029596:Paeonia / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; C038881:moutan cortex