Protective effect of apigenin on Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats via inhibiting P2X7/NF-κB pathway

Chem Biol Interact. 2015 Jul 5:236:41-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2015.04.021. Epub 2015 Apr 29.

Abstract

To evaluate the effect of apigenin (AP) on arthritis in rats stimulated by Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) was the main purpose of the investigation. Arthritis model was established by the administration of 0.1 ml FCA in the palmar surface. AP and diclofenac sodium (DS) were administered to explore and evidence the protective effects against adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA). Cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of AP. Besides, pathological conditions were examined in rat paws. Related-proteins of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signal pathway activated by P2X7 were investigated to determine the molecular mechanism of AP and their expressions were measured by western blot. The data showed that AP significantly suppressed the expressions of P2X7/NF-κB signal-related proteins and alleviated inflammatory reactions. Therefore, it was assumed that AP might be a potential therapeutic candidate to treat arthritis.

Keywords: Apigenin; Arthritis; Inflammation; P2X7/NF-κB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apigenin / pharmacology*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Experimental / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Experimental / pathology
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Freund's Adjuvant / toxicity
  • Joints / drug effects
  • Joints / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism*
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • NF-kappa B
  • Protective Agents
  • Receptors, Purinergic P2X7
  • Apigenin
  • Freund's Adjuvant