Exploration of the Mechanism of Action of Quhan Zhufeng Mixture in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway
SU Xiaojun
GUO Ying
ZHU Wenju
WANG Huan
HE Qian
ZHANG Zhiming
TIAN Xuemei
LIU Yapeng
SHEN Haili
MA Jun
BAO Qiang
Abstract：Objective To observe the effects of Quhan Zhufeng mixture on Collagen Induced Arthritis(CIA)rats and explore its mechanism.Methods Twelve SD rats were reserved as control group,and the rest rats were injected with collagen emulsion subcutaneously at the tail root to prepare CIA rat model.The 60 rats who were successfully modeled were randomly divided into the model group,methotrexate group,and low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Quhan Zhufeng mixture,and the corresponding drugs were given by gavage for 4 consecutive weeks.Foot swelling and arthritis index(AI)were measured during the experiment.After 4 weeks of administration,the histopathological changes of ankle joint were observed by HE staining.Serum CRP,TNF-α,IL-1,IL-1β and IL-6 levels were detected by ELISA.Western blot was used to detect the expressions of JAK2,STAT3,p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins in synovial tissue of knee joint.RT-qPCR was used to detect JAK2 and STAT3 mRNA in synovial tissue of knee joint.The expression of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the model group,medium-and high-dose of Quhan Zhufeng mixture could reduce the foot swelling of CIA rats,improve the pathological changes of ankle joints and reduce the secretion of inflammatory factors such as CRP,TNF-α,IL-1,IL-1β,and IL-6 in serum(P<0.01);down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of JAK2、STAT3、p-JAK2/JAK2、p-STAT3/STAT3 in synovial tissue(P<0.05),and inhibit the positive expression of MMP-1,MMP-3 and MMP-13 in ankle joint(P<0.01).Conclusion Quhan Zhufeng mixture can effectively improve the foot swelling,ankle joint pathological changes and inflammatory factor secretion in RA model rats,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Keywords：Quhan Zhufeng mixtureRheumatoid arthritisCIA ratJAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway
Publication Date：2025-08-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-28(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：6( 1373-1378 )