Preliminary Studies On Immunophamacological Actions Of A Single Active Ingredient Of Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook (code Name T₄) In The Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis(Ⅰ)

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory joint disease in which perpetuation of synovitis leads to bone and cartilage destruction. As a result of the synovitis, high levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL) —1β, tumor necrosis factor(TNF) and IL — 6 as well as rheumatoid factors(RF) of different immunoglobulin(Ig) subtypes are produced, which are thought to play a major role in causing joint destruction.Tripterygium Wilfordii Hook is a Chinese herbal plant possessing antiinflammatory and immuno-suppressive actions. The semipurified preparation of it with a code name T₂ , giving encouraging therapeutic results in RA was previously reported. A newer single active ingredient of TWH with a code name of T₄ was isolated. By animal experiments, T₄ is at least 100 times as potent as T₂.The in vitro effects of T₄ on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of...