Objective. To investigate the effect of matrine on rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and its regulatory effect on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression. Methods. Wistar rats () and CIA rats () were randomly divided into six groups: healthy, CIA control, low/medium/high matrine (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg, once per day for six weeks), and methotrexate (MTX) (2 mg/kg, once per week for six weeks). The degree of joint damage was evaluated by X-ray and HE staining. Bone marrow suppression was assessed by routine blood analysis. In addition, the levels of serum RANKL and OPG in the rats were measured by ELISA. Results. The level of joint swelling and degree of joint damage assessed by ankle swelling measurements, AI score, X-ray, and HE staining were alleviated in the CIA rats treated with MTX or different doses of matrine. Furthermore, no obvious inhibitory effect was observed on the bone marrow of the CIA rats, regardless of the dose of matrine or treatment with 2 mg/kg MTX (). The levels of OPG in serum and the ratio of OPG/RANKL were higher, and RANKL expression was lower in the low/medium/high matrine group compared with that of the CIA control group. The serum levels of OPG and OPG/RANKL ratio increased with the matrine dose, while the opposite was observed for RANKL expression. Conclusion. Matrine treatment was associated with a lower degree of bone destruction, increased OPG expression and OPG/RANKL ratio, and decreased RANKL expression in CIA rats. Thus, matrine may represent a novel drug candidate for the treatment of RA.

中文翻译：

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苦参碱对胶原性关节炎大鼠的治疗作用及其对RANKL和OPG表达的调节作用

客观。研究苦参碱对胶原诱导性关节炎（CIA）大鼠的影响及其对核因子-κB配体（RANKL）受体激活剂和骨保护素（OPG）表达的调节作用。方法。威斯塔鼠 ()和 CIA 大鼠 ()被随机分为六组：健康组、CIA 对照组、低/中/高苦参碱（25、50 或 100 mg/kg，每天一次，持续六周）和甲氨蝶呤 (MTX)（2 mg/kg，一次每周六周）。通过X射线和HE染色评估关节损伤程度。通过常规血液分析评估骨髓抑制。此外，采用ELISA法测定大鼠血清RANKL和OPG水平。结果。通过踝关节肿胀测量、AI 评分、X 射线和 HE 染色评估的关节肿胀水平和关节损伤程度在用 MTX 或不同剂量苦参碱治疗的 CIA 大鼠中得到缓解。此外，无论苦参碱剂量或 2 mg/kg MTX 治疗，对 CIA 大鼠的骨髓均未观察到明显的抑制作用。）。与CIA对照组相比，低/中/高苦参组血清OPG水平和OPG/RANKL比值较高，RANKL表达较低。OPG的血清水平和OPG/RANKL比值随着苦参碱的剂量增加而增加，而RANKL的表达则相反。结论。苦参碱治疗与 CIA 大鼠的骨破坏程度降低、OPG 表达和 OPG/RANKL 比值增加以及 RANKL 表达降低有关。因此，苦参碱可能代表一种治疗 RA 的新候选药物。