Amelioration of CIA by Asarinin is associated to a downregulation of TLR9/NF-κB and regulation of Th1/Th2/Treg expression

Abstract

To study the role of asarinin on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and its treatment mechanism on dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells. Before the onset of arthritis, asarinin were given orally to CIA mouse. Macroscopic scoring and micrometer caliper measurement were used to assess arthritis. The occurrence of cartilage destruction and bone erosion were assessed by histology of knee. Sandwich ELISA and PCR were used to assess the level of cytokines in hindpaw and arthritic joint. The CD11c MicroBeads were employed to isolate CD11c+ cells from the spleen. Quantitative PCR was used to determine DCs surface molecules of spleen. Macroscopic score and the frequency of arthritis were inhibited by asarinin. Swelling of hindpaws, inflammatory cell infiltration in the synovium, cartilage destruction, and bone erosion were delayed with asarinin. Asarinin treatment suppressed the expression of Th1 cytokines and increased the levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-10), TGF-β and Foxp3 in the synovium and hindpaw, however T-bet mRNA levels in synovium decreased. Lower expression of TLR9 and NF-kB were found in DCs after asarinin treatment. There was no difference in the expression of ICAM-1, OX40-L, and 4-1BBL in spleen DCs between the asarinin group and model control group. Asarinin can treat CIA. TLR9/NF-κB pathway may be involved in the asarinin treatment of CIA by skewing the balance of Th1/Th2/Treg to a Th2 type.