A Novel Chinese Medicine, Xinfeng Capsule, Modulates Proinflammatory Cytokines via Regulating the Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4)/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/Nuclear Kappa B (NF-κB) Signaling Pathway in an Adjuvant Arthritis Rat Model.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Cao, Yun-Xiang Huang, Dan Liu, Jian Zong, Rui-Kai Wan, Lei Huang, Chuan-Bing Zhang, Wan-Dong Wang, Yuan
Copyright Year	2019
Abstract	BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease targeting joints. This research aimed to explore the effects of Xinfeng capsules (XFC) on cardiac injury in adjuvant arthritis (AA) model rats and assessed the associated mechanism.Material/MethodsAn adjuvant arthritis (AA) rat model was established by intracutaneously injection with Freund’s complete adjuvant (FCA). Model rats were divided into 4 groups: an AA model group, an astragalus polysaccharides (APS) group, a methotrexate (MTX) group, and an XFC and triptolide (TPT) group. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe histopathologic changes. TUNEL assay was utilized to evaluate the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. ELISA was utilized to evaluate levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 17 (IL-17), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in myocardial tissues. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect microRNA-21 (miRNA21) levels. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/p38, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear kappa B (NF-κB)/p65 levels were evaluated using Western blot.ResultsXFC significantly improved proinflammatory response compared to the AA model group (p<0.05). XFC treatment significantly decreased the number of cells staining TUNEL-positive compared with the model group (p<0.05). XFC treatment significantly reduced TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-6 levels in myocardial tissues compared to the model group (p<0.05). Levels of miRNA21 were significantly lower in the XFC group compared to the AA model group (p<0.05). TLR4, MAPK/p38, and NF-κB/p65 expression levels were significantly lower in the XFC group than in the model group (p<0.05).ConclusionsXinfeng capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine preparation, protects against cardiac injury in AA rats by modulating proinflammatory cytokines expression via the TLR4/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway.
ISSN	12341010
Journal	Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
Volume Number	25
PubMed Central reference number	PMC6752099
PubMed reference number	31495827
e-ISSN	16433750
DOI	10.12659/msm.916317
Language	English
Publisher	International Scientific Literature, Inc.
Publisher Date	2019-09-09
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	This work is licensed under Creative Common Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) © Med Sci Monit, 2019
Subject Keyword	Cardiomyopathies Hereditary Autoinflammatory Diseases Myocardium Toll-Like Receptor 4
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Medicine