Affiliation:
1. School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
2. Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
We investigated whether inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) signal by cyclopamine attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats.
Methods
Cyclopamine (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection once daily from day 12 to 21 after AIA induction. Paw swelling (volume changes), serum pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (ELISA), histological analysis of joint damage (H&E staining), proteoglycans expression (Alcian blue staining), mRNA levels of sonic Hh (Shh), glioma-associated oncogene homologue 1 (Gli1), type II collagen (COII) and aggrecan in cartilage (real-time PCR) and articular chondrocyte apoptosis (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling) were measured respectively.
Key findings
Cyclopamine effectively attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage of AIA rats, as evidenced by reduced paw swelling, serum levels of tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and histological scores of joint damage, increased proteoglycans expression and mRNA levels of COII and aggrecan in articular cartilage. Shh or Gli1 mRNA level was correlated negatively with COII and aggrecan mRNA levels, suggesting Hh signal inhibition was associated with promotion of cartilage extracellular matrix production. Furthermore, cyclopamine decreased the number of apoptotic articular chondrocytes of AIA rats, which might be partly related to its mechanisms on relieving cartilage damage.
Conclusions
Our findings present some experimental evidence that Hh signal inhibition might be of potential clinical interest in rheumatoid arthritis treatment.
Funder
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education
Program for the Young and Middle-aged Academic Technology Leaders of Anhui Medical University
Program for the Top Young Talents of Anhui Medical University
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Pharmaceutical Science,Pharmacology
Cited by
28 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献