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Bufalin, a Bioactive Component of the Chinese Medicine Chansu, Inhibits Inflammation and Invasion of Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RAFLSs) contribute to the destruction of cartilage and bone by production of metalloproteinases (MMPs) into the synovial fluid and by direct invasion into extracellular matrix (ECM). Bufalin, a major component of Venenum Bufonis, can attenuate the invasion of various cancer cells. Here, we investigated the effects of bufalin on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced invasion of RAFLSs. Western blot analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were conducted to analyze the nuclear translocation of p65/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and NF-κB DNA-binding activity. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to assess the expression of cytokines. Our results revealed that TNF-α significantly increased p65 translocation into nucleus (P < 0.01) and enhanced NF-κB DNA-binding activity, which were dose-dependently inhibited by bufalin. Furthermore, bufalin attenuated the TNF-α-induced interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-8 production in RAFLSs in a concentration-dependent manner. Interestingly, TNF-α-induced invasion of RAFLSs was dampened by the pretreatment of bufalin. Additionally, bufalin decreased the mRNA abundance and secretion of MMP-9 in TNF-α-treated RAFLSs. Our results reveal that bufalin can inhibit TNF-α-induced NF-κB activation, cytokine production, invasion, and MMP-9 expression in RAFLSs, indicating a therapeutic potential of bufalin on RA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China

    Xiaofeng Rong, Yongguang Liu, Jun Wen, Chunyan Qian, Linke Sun & Jiajia Wang

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China

    Weidong Ni

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  1. Xiaofeng Rong
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Correspondence to Xiaofeng Rong.

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Rong, X., Ni, W., Liu, Y. et al. Bufalin, a Bioactive Component of the Chinese Medicine Chansu, Inhibits Inflammation and Invasion of Human Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes. Inflammation 37, 1050–1058 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10753-014-9828-y

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