Effect Of Triptolide On Expression Of Receptor Activator Of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligandin Rat Adjuvant Induced Arthritis.

Objective To explore the effect of triptolide(TP) on expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand(RANKL) and osteoprotegerin(OPG) in rat adjuvant induced arthritis(AA). Methods AA was induced in Wistar rats. Arthritis rats were treated with TP and methotrexate(MTX) at the onset(day 9) of arthritis. On the peak of arthritis(day 24),the expression of RANKL and OPG in the joints and RANKL mRNA in Peripheral blood monoeuclear cell (PBMC) were analyzed。TNF-α,IL-1βlevels in peripheral blood were determined. Bone mineral density(BMD) and bone erosion scores were evaluated. synovial fibroblasts from Arthritis rats were cultured, after stimulated with lipopolysaccride(LPS) ,treated with TP or without TP , RANKL mRNA was accessed by RT-PCR and TNF-alpha in supernatant was detected by ELISA.Results Compared with AA control group, Arthritis rats treated with TP have higher BMD,bone erosion scores(P<0.01)and lower levels expression of RANKL in the synovium (P<0.01)and bone(P<0.05),and have lower OPG level in synovium(P<0.05). TP may also decrease RANKL mRNA expression in PBMC (P<0.01)and TNF-α,IL-1βlevels in peripheral blood(P<0.01). In vitro, SF treated with LPS and TP have lower level expression of RANKL mRNA and secretion of TNF-alpha than SF only treated with LPS.Conclusion TP may Inhibit rat adjuvant arthritis bone erosion by deceasing the expression of RANKL .