title: Effect of triptolide on T-cell receptor beta variable gene mRNA expression in rats with collagen-induced arthritis.
abstract: Triptolide (TP) has been used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its mechanism of action is not understood. T-cell activation and associated release of cytokines appear to be major factors in the pathogenesis of RA. The overexpression of T-cell receptor (TCR) variable gene (V gene) fragments can cause the activation and infiltration of autoreactive T cells. This study examines the effects of TP on rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). The levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the serum were examined with ELISA. Compared to the CIA group, the levels of IL-10 were greater in the TP treatment group. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed that the expression of TCR V beta (BV) 15 and TCR BV19 was increased in the CIA group, whereas in the TP treatment group, the expression was decreased. In this study, TP was found to enhance IL-10 levels and decrease the expression levels of TCR BV15 and TCR BV19. These changes might help explain the effectiveness of TP in the treatment of RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medicine College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jixi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Aibing
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Heqing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Lantao
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wenhao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yongjie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yudong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011859:Radiography; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000235:genetics*; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; C001899:triptolide