title: Granisetron and carvedilol can protect experimental rats againstadjuvant-induced arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a disabling autoimmune disorder of the joints as well as other organs, affects about 1% of population. Unfortunately, all current treatments of RA cause severe gastrointestinal, renal and other complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to evaluate the possible antiarthritic effects of a serotonin 5-HT3receptor blocker, granisetron, and a nonselective adrenergic receptor blocker, carvedilol, on complete Freund's adjuvant-induced RA in adult female albino rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were allocated into a normal control group, an arthritis control group, two reference treatment groups receiving dexamethasone (1.5 mg/kg/day) and methotrexate (1 mg/kg/day), and two treatment groups receiving granisetron (2.5 mg/kg/day) and carvedilol (10 mg/kg/day). Serum-specific rheumatoid, immunological, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers were assessed. A confirmatory histopathological study on joints and spleens was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Granisetron administration significantly improved all the measured biomarkers, with the values of rheumatoid factor, matrix metalloproteinase-3, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein, immunoglobulin G, antinuclear antibody and myeloperoxidase being restored back to normal levels. Carvedilol administration significantly improved all biomarkers, with serum MPO value restored back to normal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serotonin 5-HT3receptor blockers and adrenergic receptor blockers, represented by granisetron and carvedilol, may represent new promising protective strategies against RA, at least owing to immune-modulator, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Nahda University , Beni-Suef , Egypt.
authors.forename: Yasmin Moustafa
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: b Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Beni-Suef University , Beni-Suef , Egypt.
authors.forename: Basim Anwar Shehata
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Messiha
authors.affiliation: a Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy , Nahda University , Beni-Suef , Egypt.
authors.forename: Ali Ahmed
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abo-Saif
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000077261:Carvedilol; D005260:Female; D017829:Granisetron / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002227:Carbazoles; D064236:Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein; D000077261:Carvedilol; D017829:Granisetron; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D009195:Peroxidase; D011412:Propanolamines; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
keywords: Rheumatoid arthritis; carvedilol; complete Freund's adjuvant; dexamethasone; granisetron; methotrexate