Immunomodulatory effects of berberine on the inflamed joint reveal new therapeutic targets for rheumatoid arthritis management.

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory syndrome designated by synovial joint inflammation leading to cartilage degradation and bone damage as well as progressive disability. Synovial inflammation is promoted through the infiltration of mononuclear immune cells, dominated by CD4+ T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), together with fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), into the synovial compartment. Berberine is a bioactive isoquinoline alkaloid compound showing various pharmacological properties that are mainly attributed to immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. Several lines of experimental study have recently investigated the therapeutic potential of berberine and its underlying mechanisms in treating RA condition. The present review aimed to clarify determinant cellular and molecular targets of berberine in RA and found that berberine through modulating several signalling pathways involved in the joint inflammation, including PI3K/Akt, Wnt1/β-catenin, AMPK/lipogenesis and LPA/LPA1 /ERK/p38 MAPK can inhibit inflammatory proliferation of FLS cells, suppress DC activation and modulate Th17/Treg balance and thus prevent cartilage and bone destruction. Importantly, these molecular targets may explore new therapeutic targets for RA treatment.

• Authors: Peng Shen, Yang Jiao, Li Miao, Ji-Hua Chen, Amir Abbas Momtazi-Borojeni
• Journal: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine (J Cell Mol Med) Vol. 24 Issue 21 Pg. 12234-12245 (11 2020) ISSN: 1582-4934 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32969153 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Lipids
• Berberine

Topics

• Animals
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy)
• Berberine (pharmacology)
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (cytology)
• Cell Cycle
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Cell Proliferation
• Dendritic Cells (drug effects)
• Fibroblasts (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Inflammation
• Intestines (pathology)
• Joints (physiopathology)
• Lipids (chemistry)
• Macrophages (drug effects)
• Mice
• Rats
• Signal Transduction
• Synovial Membrane (metabolism)
• Synoviocytes (drug effects)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (cytology)
• Th17 Cells