Objective: To explore the therapeutic effect of Jitongning capsule(JTN) on rats with wind-cold-dampness retention type rheumatoid arthritis

and provide experimental basis for the clinical application of dispelling wind

removing obstruction in the meridians and promoting blood circulation (Qufeng Tongluo Huoxue method) in the treatment of wind-cold-dampness retention type rheumatoid arthritis. Method: The 90 male Wistar rats were randomized into the normal group

control group

high dose (JTN

0.8 g·kg-1) group

middle dose (JTN

0.4 g·kg-1) group

low dose (JTN

0.2 g·kg-1) group and tripterygium glycosides (TG

0.02 g·kg-1) group. Except those in normal group

bovine type Ⅱ collagen and complete Freund adjuvant mixture emulsion was intracutaneously injected into the other rats on the 1st and 14th day to induce the rat Collagen-Induced Arthritis (CIA) model. Besides

the ‘wind

cold

wet’ environmental factors were used for stimulation for 14 consecutive days to duplicate rat models of wind-cold-dampness retention type rheumatoid arthritis. After model establishment

JTN (0.2

0.4

0.8 g·kg-1) or TG (0.02 g·kg-1) were administered intragastrically once a day

for 28 days in drug treatment groups. The body weight

articular swelling degree of rats and the arthritis index (AI) were observed. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining method was used to observe the degree of articular histopathological changes and the pathology score of rat ankle joint damage was also evaluated. Result: As compared with the normal group

the joint of rats in model group showed swelling

with slower body weight growth

significantly increased AI

IL-6 and TNF-α levels in serum (P<0.05)

with joint synovial hyperplasia

inflammatory cells infiltration

and cartilage erosion. As compared with the model group

the body weight was increased in various treatment groups

with decreased articular swelling rate and AI (P < 0.05

P < 0.01)

and significantly decreased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum (P<0.05). The pathological results also showed that JTN groups and TG group could alleviate inflammatory cells infiltration

destruction of bone and cartilage

and reduce pathological scores (P < 0.05

P < 0.01). Conclusion: The JTN capsule could significantly reduce joint inflammation and the degree of pathological damage of knee joints

and decrease the level of inflammatory factors

suggesting it has a positive therapeutic effect on model rats with wind-cold-dampness retention type rheumatoid arthritis.