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01-10-2014

Berberine Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Rats Associated with Anti-inflammatory and Anti-angiogenic Effects

Authors: Zhigang Wang, Zhe Chen, Sisi Yang, Yu Wang, Zhaoyi Huang, Jianfei Gao, Shenghao Tu, Zhiguo Rao

Published in: Inflammation | Issue 5/2014

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and joint destruction. In this study, we explored the effect of berberine on rats with bovine type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), an animal model for RA. Following treatment, berberine attenuates arthritic scores and suppresses collagen–specific immune responses in CIA rats. Compared with the un-treated CIA group, berberine reversed pathological changes, which showed a significant improvement in synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory infiltration. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were obviously reduced in the sera of berberine-treated rats (all P < 0.05). Moreover, berberine showed marked inhibition of the expression of VEGF and CD34 (all P < 0.05). Interestingly, berberine significantly suppresses p-ERK, p-p38 and p-JNK activation (all P < 0.05), which may partially explain the anti-RA activity of berberine. These results suggest that berberine ameliorates CIA in rats associated with anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects, which might be of great therapeutic value for RA.

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Title: Berberine Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritis in Rats Associated with Anti-inflammatory and Anti-angiogenic Effects
Authors: Zhigang Wang
Zhe Chen
Sisi Yang
Yu Wang
Zhaoyi Huang
Jianfei Gao
Shenghao Tu
Zhiguo Rao
Publication date: 01-10-2014
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Inflammation / Issue 5/2014
Print ISSN: 0360-3997
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2576
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-014-9909-y

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