Int J Biol Macromol
Yunnan Provincial Engineering and Research Center for Sustainable Utilization of Honey Bee Resources, Eastern Bee Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China. Electronic address:
Published: June 2024
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease lacking a definitive cure. Although conventional treatments such as dexamethasone and methotrexate are prevalent, their usage is constrained by potential adverse effects. Melittin (MLT) has emerged as a promising natural anti-rheumatic drug; however, studies focusing on the role of MLT in modulating the expression and metabolism of RA-related genes are scarce.
Method: Arthritis was induced in rats using Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA), followed by MLT injections for treatment. Post-treatment, the inflammatory status of each group was assessed, and the mechanistic underpinnings of MLT's ameliorative effects on RA were elucidated through transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. Additionally, this study conducted qRT-PCR validation of key therapeutic genes and characterized the molecular docking interactions of MLT with key receptor proteins (TNF-α and IL-1β) using the AutoDock Vina software.
Result: MLT significantly diminished redness and swelling in affected joints, ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration, and mitigated joint damage. Integration of transcriptomic and metabolomic data revealed that MLT predominantly regulated the transcription levels of pathways and genes related to cytokines and immune responses, and the metabolic biomarkers of Sphingomyelin, fatty acid, and flavonoid. qRT-PCR confirmed MLT's downregulation of inflammation-related genes such as Il6, Jak2, Stat3, and Ptx3. Molecular docking simulations demonstrated the stable binding of MLT to TNF-α and IL-1β.
Conclusion: MLT demonstrated significant efficacy in alleviating RA. This study provides a comprehensive summary of MLT's impact on gene expression and metabolic processes associated with RA.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132293 | DOI Listing |
Clin Rheumatol
January 2025
Immunology Research Core Facility, Gemelli Science and Technology Park (GSTeP), Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Objective: Regardless of remission status, residual pain (RP) might persist in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to characterize RP, its perception, and patient-dependent features and to evaluate its possible association with residual synovitis in patients with RA in remission.
Methods: Ninety-seven patients with RA, including 68 in sustained clinical and ultrasound remission (Rem/RA) and 29 in high/moderate DAS28-CRP disease activity (H-Mo/RA) were enrolled in the study.
Rheumatol Int
January 2025
Department of Rheumatology, Immunology and Internal Medicine, University Hospital in Kraków, Kraków, Poland.
Sleep disorders are relatively common among patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and have a substantial impact on their quality of life. Although patients frequently recognize poor sleep as an important component of their disease, dyssomnias remain often underdiagnosed and untreated in routine clinical practice. This narrative review examines the prevalence, mechanism, risk factors and management of dyssomnias in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Sci (Weinh)
January 2025
Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266071, China.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic systemic autoimmune disease that often results in irreversible joint erosion and disability. Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line drug against RA, but the significant side effects of long-term administration limit its use. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies are needed for treating RA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmunol Invest
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China.
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder with limited reliable diagnostic biomarkers. This study evaluates the utility of DEAD-box helicase 5 (DDX5) as a diagnostic and differential marker for SLE and assesses the performance of a capture bead-based flow cytometry (CBFCM) method for detecting serum proteins.
Method: Serum samples were collected from 52 patients with SLE, 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 49 patients with lung cancer (LC), and 50 healthy controls (HCs).
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