Abstract | OBJECTIVE: METHODS: Firstly, the expression levels of LPA and lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPA1) in RA patients, osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and healthy controls were detected. Moreover, molecular docking was employed to characterize the binding sites of berberine in the predicted protein targets. Later, FLS-RA were stimulated using berberine, LPA, and the specific inhibitor ( Ki16425) of LPA1, thereafter, the effects on the proliferation, apoptosis, the release of inflammatory mediators of FLS-RA, and the MAPK pathway were observed. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls (n = 25), the plasma LPA level (n = 28) and synovial fluid (n = 10) were markedly higher in RA patients. LPA1 was highly expressed in RA patients (n = 4) relative to that in OA patients (n = 4). Berberine remarkably inhibited the proliferation and the excessive production of IL-6 and TNF-α in FLS-RA, whereas suppressing the expression of K-ras, c-Raf, and p-38/ERK-phosphorylation. In addition, berberine inhibited the LPA-induced p-38/ERK-phosphorylation through binding to LPA1. CONCLUSIONS: LPA plays a certain role in promoting the proliferation and inflammation of FLS-RA. Berberine potentially modulates LPA function to suppress the proliferation and inflammation of FLS-RA through blocking the p38/ERK MAPK pathway mediated by LPA1. These findings suggest that, berberine possesses potential lipid-regulating, antiarthritis, and synovial hyperplasia inhibition activities against RA, which may provide a promising therapeutic target for the clinical drug development for RA patients with dyslipidemia and high CVD risk.
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Authors | Hui Wang, Shenghao Tu, Sisi Yang, Pan Shen, Yao Huang, Xin Ba, Weiji Lin, Ying Huang, Yu Wang, Kai Qin, Zhe Chen |
Journal | Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
(Evid Based Complement Alternat Med)
Vol. 2019
Pg. 2580207
( 2019)
ISSN: 1741-427X [Print] United States |
PMID | 31781264
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2019 Hui Wang et al. |