[Paharmacological mechanisms of cellular immunity of overall alkali of tongbiling for the treatment of joint destruction].

Aim: To investigate the effect of the overall alkali of Traditional Chinese Medicine tongbiling(TBL) which comprises brucine and strychnine alkaloids on collagen induced-arthritis(CIA) and study its paharmacological mechanisms of cellular immunity.
Methods: Bovine CII was emulsified in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. Wistar rats were injected with Type II collagen intradermally at the base of the tail. After swelling, CIA groups were, randomly divided into physiological saline group and treatment group. Then the swelling of the rats' hindlimbs was evaluated. The whole body of the rats treated on 35 th days was photographed by mammography X-Ray. 96 joints in erosion scoring system and 100 joints in joint spacing narrow(JSN) scoring system were used to observe the joint destruction of CIA from X-Ray comprehensively and objectively. After the rats were killed, the third proximal claw pad of the right hindlimb and left forelimb were stained by HE dying, Neutrophil, lymphocyte, plasmacyte infiltration and hyperplasia of synoviocytes were assessed. Then MTT and Western blot were used to determine the effect of the overall alkali of TBL on proliferation of Jurkat cells and ERK1/2 phosphorylation of Jurkat cells, respectively.
Results: Inflammation of CIA joints was aggravated quickly. The swelling of CIA rats treated by MTX and overall alkali of TBL for 35 days was relieved (P<0.05). MTX and overall alkali of TBL inhibited the hyperplasia of synoviocytes. Overall alkali of TBL inhibited the infiltration of lymphocyteS and plasmacytes. Overall alkali of TBL inhibited the proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation of Jurkat cells.
Conclusion: Overall alkali of TBL could relieve joint inflammation and destruction of CIA rats by blocking the MAPK cell signalling pathway to inhibit the activation and proliferation of T cells. Our study might provide an experimental basis for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with overall alkali of TBL.