Preprint / Version 1

Psoralea corylifolia L. Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritis by Reducing Proinflammatory Cytokines and Upregulating Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells

Authors

  • Fu-Tzu Pai Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; [email protected]
  • Cheng-You Lu Cardiovascular and Mitochondrial Related Disease Research Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien 97002, Taiwan; [email protected]
  • Chia-Hsin Lin Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)
  • John Wang Department of Pathology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected]
  • Ming-Cheng Huang School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; [email protected]
  • Chuan-Teng Liu Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)
  • Ying-Chyi Song Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)
  • Cheng-Lung Ku Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; [email protected]
  • Hung-Rong Yen Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)

Keywords:

Psoralea corylifolia L., collagen-induced arthritis, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, proinflammatory cytokines, rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that may lead to severe complications. The fruit of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PCL) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as a well-known herbal treatment for orthopedic diseases. However, there is a lack of studies of its effects on rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of concentrated herbal granules of PCL on rheumatoid arthritis to provide some insights for future development of new drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: We used collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) DBA/1J mice as an experimental model to mimic human rheumatoid arthritis. The mice were immunized with collagen on days 0 and 21 and then orally administered 200 mg/kg/day PCL on days 22–49. Starch was used as a control. The mice were sacrificed on day 50. Clinical phenotypes, joint histopathology, and immunological profiles were measured. Results: Compared to the CIA or CIA + Starch group, the CIA + PCL group had significantly ameliorated clinical severity and decreased paw swelling. Histopathological analysis of the hind paws showed that PCL mitigated the erosion of cartilage and the proliferation of synovial tissues. There were significant differences in the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-17A, as measured by ELISA, and the percentages of CD4 + IL-17A+, CD4 + TNF-α+, CD4 + IFN-γ+ T cells. Furthermore, we also found that in mice treated with CIA + PCL, the percentage and number of bone marrow-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs; Gr1+ CD11b+) increased significantly. Conclusions: We provided evidence for the potential antiarthritic effects of PCL through the inhibition of inflammation and increase of MDSCs. These findings indicate that PCL may be a promising therapeutic herb for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Keywords: Psoralea corylifolia L., collagen-induced arthritis, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, proinflammatory cytokines, rheumatoid arthritis

Author Biographies

Fu-Tzu Pai, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 33302, Taiwan; [email protected]

Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)

Chia-Hsin Lin, Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)

School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; [email protected]

Ming-Cheng Huang, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; [email protected]

Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan

Ying-Chyi Song, Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)

Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan

Hung-Rong Yen, Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; [email protected] (C.-H.L.); [email protected] (C.-T.L.); [email protected] (Y.-C.S.)

Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan

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