Intervention Study Of YunNan Baiyao On Experimental Rheumatic Arthritis Of Rats

[Aim] Explore into the effect and mechanism of YunNan Baiyao on rheumatic arthritis of rats.[Methods]The96healthy male rats were divided into four groups at random:normal group (24rats), model group (24rats), Baiyao group (24rats), methotrexate group (24rats).0.2ml complete Freud adjuvant (10g/L) mixed with collagen II was injected into the starting part of the tail,0.1ml for the toe pad of left hindlimb. Intragastric administration was carried out in7and21days after first injection of Freud adjuvant.6rats of each group were executed on a continuous week basis after heart blood getting under ethyl ether anesthesia, left hindlimb joints samples were taken immediately and reserved in liquid nitrogen, RANKL and OPG mRNA level in joint samples were measured by RT-PCR, HE staining and immunohistochemical were used to assay the expression of RANKL in some of the joints samples; Flow cytometry was used to check the change portion of Th17cell in spleen of rats; The amount change of IL-10and IL-17was assayed by ELISA, SPSS17.0for statistical analysis.[Results] Weight increase of rats in model group was not much as normal group in14days after modelling. Anti-inflammation IL-10expression was up-regulated and IL-17in peripheral blood plasma was down-regulated in Baiyao and methotrexate group, and in the mean time, inflammation in joints tissues alleviated as the administration went on. Swelling of toe pad, Arthritis grade and synovial inflammation invasion in Baiyao and methotrexate group was apparently eased when compared with model group. Meanwhile, RANKL mRNA level down-regulated and OPG mRNA level up -regulated in joints tissues. RANKL positive cells decreased significantly in Baiyao and methotrexate group compared with model group after1week administration. Ratio of Th17cell in spleen of Baiyao group was significantly lower than model group, while ratio of Th17cell in spleen of methotrexate group started being lower than model group after2weeks administration.[Conclusion] YunNan Baiyao and methotrexate were able to down-regulate RNAKL level and up-regulate OPG level, lower the activation of immune inflammation cells. YunNan Baiyao eased joints swelling and inhibited the development of joints inflammation as methotrexate did, in the mean while, IL-10expression was up-regulated and IL-17in peripheral blood plasma was down-regulated by administration of YunNan Baiyao.