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. 2024 Jan 11;16(2):274-281.
doi: 10.1016/j.chmed.2023.10.003. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction suppresses inflammation and bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis mice

Jiamin Bao  1   2   3   4 , Yongjia Song  1 , Minghui Hang  1   2   3   4 , Hao Xu  2   3   4 , Qiang Li  2   3   4 , Pengyu Wang  2   3   4 , Tao Chen  2   3   4 , Mengxiong Xia  2   3   4 , Qi Shi  1   2   3   4 , Yongjun Wang  1   2   3   4 , Xiaoyun Wang  2   3   4   5 , Qianqian Liang  1   2   3   4
Affiliations

Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction suppresses inflammation and bone destruction in collagen-induced arthritis mice

Jiamin Bao et al. Chin Herb Med. .

Abstract

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory and destructive arthritis, characterized by inflammatory infiltration and bone destruction. Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HGWD) is traditional Chinese medicine, which has been applied in the treatment of RA in clinical. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of HGWD on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model.

Methods: DBA/1J female mice were used to establish the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. HGWD was administered intragastrically once a day for four weeks starting on the 22nd day after the first immunization. The body weight, hind paw thickness and clinical score were measured every five days. Gait analysis, histopathological staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), ultrasound imaging and micro-computed tomography imaging were performed to determine the effects of HGWD treatment on inflammation and bone structure in this model. Moreover, Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect inflammatory factors mRNA and protein levels after HGWD intervention in RAW 264.7 cells.

Results: HGWD attenuated symptoms of arthritis, suppressed inflammatory synovium area and the serum levels of inflammatory factors, inhibited joint space enlargement in the knee and ankle joints, reduced numbers of osteoclasts, protected bone destruction, as well as improved motor function. HGWD decreased the expression of mRNA for inflammatory factors and the protein expression levels of p-NF-кB and IL-17.

Conclusion: These results suggested that HGWD suppresses inflammation, attenuates bone erosion and maintains motor function in collagen-induced arthritis mice.

Keywords: Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction; bone destruction; collagen-induced arthritis; inflammation; rheumatoid arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
HGWD attenuated symptoms of CIA (mean ± SD, n = 8). (A) Schedule of experimental groups and drug administration. Body weight (B), paw thickness (C) and clinical score (E) in each group over time. (D) Representative pictures of hind paws of each group on day 51. *P < 0.05 vs CIA + Saline group.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
HGWD improved gait function (mean ± SD, n = 8). Gait parameters of average speed (A), right hindlimb swing (B), right hindlimb stance (C), and right hindlimb print area (D) in each group at day 51. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs CIA + Saline group.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
HGWD inhibited joint space enlargement in knee and ankle joint of CIA mice. (A) Representative images of B mode and three-dimensional reconstructions of knee and ankle joints. Quantification of joint space volume of knee (B) and ankle (C) (mean ± SD, n = 8). ***P < 0.001 vs CIA + Saline group.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
HGWD reduces inflammation of knee and ankle joint. (A) Representative images of ABOG staining of knee and ankle joint (scale bar = 200 μm). (B) Quantification of inflammatory area/ total area (mean ± SD, n = 8). (C) Representative images of TNF-α immunohistochemical staining of ankle joint. Scale bar = 200 μm in upper pictures; Scale bar = 50 μm in bottom pictures. (D) Quantification of TNF-α positive area/ total area (mean ± SD, n = 3). ***P < 0.001 vs CIA + Saline group.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
HGWD reduces levels of inflammatory factors of TNF-α (A), IL-1β (B), and IL-6 (C) in serum (mean ± SD, n = 8). ***P < 0.001 vs CIA + Saline group.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
HGWD protected bone destruction. (A) Representative 3D micro-CT images of ankle joints (scale bar = 1 mm). (B) Representative TRAP staining images. Scale bar = 200 μm in upper pictures; Scale bar = 50 μm in bottom pictures. (C) Quantification of number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts (mean ± SD, n = 8). ***P < 0.001 vs CIA + Saline group.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
HGWD suppressed mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory factors. (A) Cell viability of Raw264.7 treated by different concentrations of HGWD for 24 h (mean ± SD, n = 5). (B−E) mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and iNOS in Raw264.7 (mean ± SD, n = 3). (F) Representative WB image. Quantitative analysis of IL-17 (G) and p-NF-кB (H) protein expression (mean ± SD, n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs CIA + Saline group.
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