¹ Effect of bizhongxiao decotion (BZXD) on some cytokines in plasma of rats with CⅡ-induced rheumatoid arthritis

Xiangya Hospital, Central South University，Changsha 410008 ，China

[1]fund item :the experience was supported by Chinese medicine administration bureau in Hunan province (20053)and also by science committee in Hunanprovince(02 ssy4028s)
Correspondence author: LIANG Qing-hua Tel:86-731-4327213 Fax:86-731-4327227 Email:LQHxy@163.com

	ABSTRACT
	MATERIALS AND METHODS
	RESULTS
	DISCUSSIONS
	REFERENCES

	ABSTRACT

	MATERIALS AND METHODS

Material:
Of 75 SD rats(age: 45-50 days old, weight 150±30g), 37 female and 38 male of rats were selected for experiment which were purchased from XiangYa medical college experimental center, central southern university. Bovine ⅡCollagen was purchased from the company of Sigma. Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was bought from the company of Gbica. TNF- α and IL-1βradio-immunity kits were bought from the East Asia immunity center of Beijing.

Methods:
Dividing experimental animals:
Seventy-five SD rats are divided into 4 groups randomly:①Normal control group (N=5);②CIA group(N=16); ③MTX group(N=25); ④BZXD group(N=29)。
Rat model established: ^[1]
Grinded collagen type-Ⅱwith FCA, and then injecting the compound 100 μl into the rat tail skin for each one. For enhancing the immunity effect, injecting again according to the above method after 21 days.
Treatment:
7 days after immunity, rats in BZXD group and MTX group were treated respectively which in BZXD group was treated with BZXD 10ml.kg-1twice every day (the usage equal to 3 times of 70 kg person) and in MTX group was treated with MTX 2.7mg.kg - lonce every week (the usage equal to 3 times of 70 kg person). Rats in normal control group not be treated any more.
Arthritis symptom evaluation: ^[2]
Arthritis index which is according to the red and swollen degree in joint was adopted to evaluate symptom. 0 cents: no arthritis; 1 cent: light swelling or few red spot;2 cents: middle degree swelling in joint;3 cents: joint swollen badly and can't sustain themselves. The joint index more high, the joint symptom more serious.
Method of obtaining tissues:
Rats in normal group are killed at 25d. Those rats in CIA group、BZXD group and MTX group were killed at 25d、30d、35d、40d、45d respectively. After using anticoagulantand and separating plasma with EDTA, these specimens were protected in -20℃ for use. Above process go according to the kits introduction.
Statistical analysis:
All the data were analysised by using statistical software package (spss11.0 ) and were manifested by mean and standard deviation ( ±s). Different groups were compared with analysis of variance and t-test.

	RESULTS

 
The general condition:
CIA rats eat less and weigh lighter than those in the other three groups. Moreover, they have dry hair. After the first time immunity, the partial rats have light swelling and red spot at joint. Ten days later, the arthritis get more bad. After enhancing immunity at 21d, the symptom get serious more and more. CIA rats swellen in ankles and toes symmetry. But in the BZXD group and the MTX group ,those rats have joint swelling and inflammation alleviates gradually from 30d while the CIA group have the highest arthritis index.
The result of the arthritis index:
There were no differences among these three groups before 14d.Following the time advancing, the arthritis index increase gradually. The symptom of those rats in BZXD group and MTX group rise to the peak at 21d and 25d respectively, which was lower than those in CIA group. To 30d, the arthritis index decline.
Plasma TNF- α and IL-1β levels(Table1)(Table2)

DISCUSSIONS

The RA held chronic and symmetry arthritis as primary expression which based on the synovitis. Its cause and mechanism are unclear yet. With the cell molecular biology and the immunology developing and the RA animal model established, these information can help to find mechanism such as cytokines、TH1/ TH2 cell balanced、cell apoptosis、sex hormone、 proto-oncogene which are of great importance to the outbreak of RA. Among numerous cytokines, people have confirmed that the IL-1, TNF- α played a key role in arthritis progression ^{[3 , 4]}. TNF- α is an important regular factor in inflammation and immunity response, which can stimulate the synoviocyte and cartilage cells to synthesize the PGE2 and collagenase causing synovium and cartilage destruction in joint. TNF- α can stimulate itself synthesization as well as those of IL-1、IL-6、 IL-8. It is one of the most important factors in the cytokine network.. IL-1 includes IL-1α and IL-1β which is mainly secreted by macrophage 、the endothelial cells and lymphoid cells. It might to induce a series of inflammation response including fever, synthesization of the acute period protein and influence of the local cartilage and the matrix metabolism. There was a study showed that TNF- α blocker is valid in the early arthritis, but the treatment of the anti- IL-1 can prevent the arthritis from developing continuously and the cartilage destruction^{[5 , 6]}.In rabbit arthritis model, using adenovirus carrier to load the IL-1 solube receptor into knee joint can reduce the cartilage erosion and the leucocyte infiltration^[7]. IL-13 have also anti-inflammation activity because of suppressing IL-1β and TNF- α expression^[8]. Wim van den Berg^[9] pointed that TNF- α caused early joint swelling in RA and IL-1β combining with the immune complex lead to the cartilage erosion. TNF blockage was effective in the early period, and following anti-IL-1 treatment was effective on the blockage of arthritis and joint destruction ,he said. At the same time, IL-1 affect TNF- α mutually which aggravate the disease. TNF- α which can induce IL-1 production is important at the onset of RA. And based on this view, he pointed that it is necessary to block IL-1 and TNF- α in the treatment of RA . Observing in this experiment, the joint swelling and inflammation was obvious after established the mold 25d. TNF- α and IL-1β rise remarkably with the disease progress which indicated these two cytokines play the key role in RA pathologic process. Following TNF- α and IL-1β declined, the symptom of the red and swelling alleviated in joint after treated with BZXD and MTX. Which coincided with the above report.

The BZXD is a Traditional Chinese medicine for active period RA which can promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis、clear away heat and toxic materials、induce diuresis to reduce edema and dispel pathogenic mind and remove obstruction in the channels. BZXD can relieve symptom such as morning stiffness、 joint ache、joint swelling and so on in the treatment with active period RA .All these role of BZXD were better than those of MTX. At the same time, the BZXD still has the anti- immunity and regulating the sub-cluster in T cells which resemble with the MTX^[10].In CIA model, it can suppress the expression of VEGF in synovium ^[11]and reduce the local inflammation and the pannus formation. BZXD can reduce IL-1β level and relieve the arthritis which might result from regulating the immunity function、suppressing the TNF- α expression or combining with the TNF- α receptor and then interrupt the cytokine net. whether the BZXD can block the cartilage destruction or not, there still has a lot of work to do.

	REFERENCES

• 1. Deng AM , Zhong RQ,Cheng SX et al, Experience studies of symstimulation pathway of B7:CD28/CTLA-4 in arthritis[J] Chinese Journal Immunology,2000,16:412-414.
• 2. Han XF, M BL, ZHANG JY et al, Creation of rheumatoid arthritis model in rats induced by chicken II collagen[J] Shanghai Journal of Immunology, 2002,21(6):330-333.
• 3. Arend, W. P. J.-M. Dayer. Inhibition of theproduction and effects ofinterleukin-1 and tumornecrosis factorαin rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1995.38: 151.
• 4. Cvetkovic JT, Wallberg-Jonsson S, Stegmayr B, et al. Susceptibility for and clinical manifestations of RA are associated with polymorphisms of the TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-1Ra genes. J Rheumatol,2002 :29(2):212-219
• 5. Joosten, LAB, Helsen, MMA, van de Loo, et al. Anticytokine treatment of established type II collagen-induced arthritis in DBA/1 mice: a comparative study using anti-TNFα, anti-IL-1I/β, and IL-1ra. Arthritis Rheum 1996, 39:797 809.
• 6. Joosten, LAB, Helsen, MMA, Saxne, T, et al.IL-1Iβ blockade prevents cartilage and bone destruction in murine type II collagen-induced arthritis, whereas TNF-α blockade only ameliorates joint inflammation. J Immunol 1999, 163:5049 5055.
• 7. Steven C. Ghivizzani, Eric R. Lechman, Richard Kang, et al. Direct adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor α soluble receptors to rabbit knees with experimental arthritis has local and distal anti arthritic effectsProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 1998 April 14; 95 (8): 4613-4618
• 8. James M. Woods, Kenneth J. Katschke, Jr. Reduction of Inflammatory Cytokines and Prostaglandin E2by IL-13 Gene Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovium. The Journal of Immunology, 2000, 165: 2755-2763
• 9. van den Berg, WB: Anti-cytokine therapy in chronic destructive arthritis. Arthritis Res 2001, 3:18 26.
• 10. Liang QH, Tang T, Zhang HX.The effect of Bizhongxiao decotion on the sub-cluster of T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Bulletin of HUNAN medical university, 2001,26（6）:534-536
• 11. Liang QH, He JH.The effect of Bizongxiao dection on VEGF expression in synium of C-Ⅱ induced arthritis rats. Bulletin of HUNAN medical university, 2002,27（6）：491-94

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