Abstract:

Objective: To investigate the intervention effect of tripterygium hypoglaucum hutch(THH)on the immune function of rats with collagen induced arthritis(CIA),and to clarify its possible mechanism.Methods Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into normal group(n=10)and CIA group(n=40).The rats in CIA group were induced into CIA models by type Ⅱ collagen. 36 rats were successfully set up and randomly divided into model group,dexamethasone group,200 mg·kg^-1 THH group and 400 mg·kg^-1 THH group(n=9).The degree of swelling of paw and the articular index changes of the rats in various groups during the experiment were observed.On the 35th day of experiment,the level of anti-C Ⅱ IgG antibody was detected by ELISA;the proliferation activities of spleen T and B lymphocytes were detected by MTT;the levels of interleukin-12(IL-12),interleukin-23(IL-23)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in spleen tissue were determined by ELISA.The paw tissue was collected and stained by HE,and the histopathological changes were observed.Results: Compared with normal group,the articular index of the rats in model group was significantly increased(P<0.01);the levels of serum anti-C Ⅱ IgG antibody,the proliferation activities of spleen T and B lymphocytes,the levels of IL-12,IL-23 and TNF-α in spleen tissue of the rats in model group were significantly increased(P<0.01);the subcutaneous tissue cells of the rat paw in model group arranged irregularly with inflammatory cells infiltrating and vascular proliferation.Compared with model group,the general situation of the rats in 400 mg·kg^-1 THH group was improved;the degree of swelling of paw and the articular index of the rats were reduced(P<0.01),and the proliferation activities of spleen T and B lymphocytes were significantly decreased(P<0.01);the levels of serum anti-CⅡ IgG antibody was significantly decreased(P<0.01);the levels of IL-23,TNF-α and IL-12 in spleen tissue were significantly decreased(P<0.01);the histopathological changes of rat paw were significantly improved.There were no significant changes in the above indicators in 200 mg·kg^-1 THH group. Conclusion: 400 mg·kg^-1 THH has significantly inhibitory effect on arthritis in the CIA rats,and its possible mechanisms may be related to obviously inhibiting the proliferation of T and B lymphocytes and significantly inhibiting the levels of IL-23,TNF- a,IL-12 in spleen tissue and serum anti-C Ⅱ antibody and significantly improving the pathological changes of the paw tissue of rats.

Key words: tripterygium hypoglaucum hutch, collagen-induced arthritis, immune function