Objective:

2

To observe the effects of different combinations of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (Qinjiao) on the ankle joint matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) model rats with wind-cold-dampness arthralgia.

Method:

2

Eighty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups

namely blank control group

collage Ⅱ model group

wind-cold-dampness syndrome model group

positive control group

single-taste Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix group

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix-Clematidis Radix et Rhizoma group (GC group)

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix-Taxilli Herba group (GT group)

Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix-Stephanlae Tetrandrae Radix group (GS group)

with 10 rats in each group. Rat model of wind-cold-dampness RA was induced through the injection with type Ⅱ collagen emulsion and wind-cold-dampness stimulation. After the establishment of the model

the blank control group

collage Ⅱ model group and wind-cold-dampness syndrome model group were given normal saline

and the corresponding liquid medicine was given to each administration group. In the experiment

the thickness of the left posterior metatarsal of rats was measured every 3 days

and the swelling degree of metatarsal was calculated. The arthritis index (AI) was evaluated on the 38

th

day of the experiment. The serum rheamatoid factor(RF) content of rats was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressions of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 in ankle joint were detected by Western blot. The expressions of MMP-3 and TIMP-1 mRNA in ankle joint were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (Real-time PCR).

Result:

2

Compared with the blank group

the swelling degree

AI score

serum RF content

MMP-3 protein expression and MMP-3 mRNA expression in ankle joints of coll age Ⅱ model group and model wind-cold-dampness syndrome group were significantly increased (

P

<

0.05

P

<

0.01)

while the TIMP-1 protein expression and TIMP-1 mRNA expression in ankle joints were significantly decreased (

P

<

0.01). Compared with the wind-cold-dampness syndrome model group

the swelling degree of foot and metatarsal

AI score and serum RF content of each administration group were decreased to different degrees

especially in Qinwei group (

P

<

0.01). The results of Western blot and Real-time PCR showed that the expressions of MMP-3 protein and MMP-3 mRNA in ankle joints of each administration group were significantly lower than those of wind-cold-dampness syndrome model group (

P

<

0.01). The expressions of TIMP-1 protein and TIMP-1 mRNA in ankle joints of rats in positive control group

GC group and GT group were significantly higher than those in GC group (

P

<

0.01).

Conclusion:

2

For rheumatoid arthritis with wind-cold-dampness arthralgia

mild and warm traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a better effect than the combination of mild and cold TCM or mild TCM drugs. The experimental results are basically consistent with the principle of “treating cold diseases with hot medicine”. The mechanism of the compatibility in treating rheumatoid arthritis due to wind-cold-dampness arthralgia may be related to the reduction of MMP-3

the increase of TIMP-1 expression and the reduction of articular cartilage damage.