title: Efficacy of concurrent administration of cilostazol and methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: pharmacologic and clinical significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess the beneficial effects of the concurrent administration of cilostazol and methotrexate (MTX) on the synovial fibroblasts obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Production of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 on synovial fibroblasts from RA patients was determined by RT-PCR. Cell proliferation, viability and apoptosis were measured. Anti-arthritic effects were evaluated in CIA mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concurrent use of cilostazol and MTX effectively suppressed proliferation and cell viability associated with enhanced apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts and significantly suppressed cytokine production, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 in an additive manner. In line with these findings, LPS-induced increased expression of NURR1 mRNA and protein were suppressed by cilostazol and MTX in accordance with suppression of NF-κB p65 activity. These suppressed effects were reversed by KT5720 (cAMP-protein kinase inhibitor) and ZM 241385 (A(2A) receptor antagonist), respectively. In CIA mice, treatment with cilostazol, MTX and their combination significantly decreased clinical signs with improvement of histopathological status in the paw of mice, accompanied by reduced serum cytokine levels. Likewise, following concurrent administration, CD68 (+)-cell recruitment, proteoglycan depletion and osteoclast formation were significantly suppressed in association with repressed RANKL expression in the joints of CIA mice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, a combination of cilostazol and MTX may provide an effective therapeutic strategy for the suppression of inflammation and the prevention of joint damage in RA via activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the synovial fibroblasts.
authors: Medical Research Center for Ischemic Tissue Regeneration, Pusan National University, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. 6866589@hanmail.net
authors: Hye Young
authors: HY
authors: Kim
authors: Sung Won
authors: SW
authors: Lee
authors: So Youn
authors: SY
authors: Park
authors: Seung Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Baek
authors: Choong Won
authors: CW
authors: Lee
authors: Ki Whan
authors: KW
authors: Hong
authors: Chi Dae
authors: CD
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D001483:Base Sequence; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000077407:Cilostazol; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D017931:DNA Primers; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000077407:Cilostazol; D008727:Methotrexate