A two-herb formula inhibits hyperproliferation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes

Ying Jie Chen, Yu Xi Liu, Jia Ying Wu, Chun Yu Li, Min Min Tang, Lu Bai, Xiuqiong Fu, Jun Kui Li, Ji Yao Chou, Cheng Le Yin, Ya Ping Wang, Jing Xuan Bai, Ying Wu, Xiao Qi Wang, Zhiling Yu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) play a pathogenic role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). STAT3 signaling is activated in FLS of RA patients (RA-FLS), which in turn causes RA-FLS hyperproliferation. RL is a traditional remedy for treating inflammatory diseases in China. It comprises Rosae Multiflorae Fructus and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. A standardized ethanolic extract of RL (RLE) has been shown to exert anti-arthritic effects in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. Some constituents of RLE were reported to inhibit JAK2/STAT3 signaling in rat FLS. Here, we determined whether RLE inhibits FLS hyperproliferation, and explored the involvement of STAT3 signaling in this inhibition. In joints of CIA rats, RLE increased apoptotic FLS. In IL-6/sIL-6R-stimulated RA-FLS, RLE reduced cell viability and evoked cell apoptosis. In synovial tissues of CIA rats, RLE lowered the protein level of phospho-STAT3. In IL-6/sIL-6R-stimulated RA-FLS, RLE inhibited activation/phosphorylation of STAT3 and JAK2, decreased the nuclear localization of STAT3, and downregulated protein levels of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. Over-activation of STAT3 diminished RLE’s anti-proliferative effects in IL-6/sIL-6R-stimulated RA-FLS. In summary, RLE inhibits hyperproliferation of FLS in rat and cell models, and suppression of STAT3 signaling contributes to the underlying mechanisms. This study provides further pharmacological groundwork for developing RLE as a modern anti-arthritic drug.

Original languageEnglish
Article number3850
JournalScientific Reports
Volume11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Feb 2021

Scopus Subject Areas

  • General

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