title: Baicalin inhibits IL-17-mediated joint inflammation in murine adjuvant-induced arthritis.
abstract: T-helper-17 (Th17) cells are implicated in a number of inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis. Antagonism of Th17 cells is a treatment option for arthritis. Here, we report that Baicalin, a compound isolated from the Chinese herb Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), relieved ankle swelling and protected the joint against inflammatory destruction in a murine adjuvant-induced arthritis model. Baicalin inhibited splenic Th17 cell population expansion in vivo. Baicalin prevented interleukin- (IL-) 17-mediated lymphocyte adhesion to cultured synoviocytes. Baicalin also blocked IL-17-induced intercellular adhesion molecule 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression in cultured synoviocytes. Collectively, these findings suggest that Baicalin downregulates the joint inflammation caused by IL-17, which is likely produced by an expanded population of splenic Th17 cells in experimental arthritis. Baicalin might be a promising novel therapeutic agent for treating rheumatoid arthritis in humans.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Wulumuqizhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hejian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005419:Flavonoids; D020381:Interleukin-17; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C038044:baicalin; D005620:Freund's Adjuvant