Xiaonan Lu; Siyu Wei; Laifeng Wu; Lingchen Liao; Yingxing Nong & An Huang

This study explores the regulatory effects of Zhuang medicine Longzuan Tongbi Decoction on the Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway, aiming to identify new methods for preventing and treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sixty Wistar rats were divided into six groups: normal, model, methotrexate (MTX), and high, medium, and low-dose decoction groups. RA models were induced with a mixture of bovine type II collagen and incomplete Freund's adjuvant. The intervention groups were treated for 28 days, with body weight and toe volume measured throughout. Pathological changes in the ankle joints were evaluated through HE staining, while enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis were used to detect TLR4, FOS, JUN, and CCL5 expression levels in serum and synovial tissues. Additionally, real-time PCR assessed mRNA levels of these markers. Primary fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA models were cultured with medicated serum, and proliferation and apoptosis were analyzed. Results showed that compared to the model group, the decoction groups exhibited reduced synovial hyperplasia, joint damage, and expression of TLR4, FOS, JUN, and CCL5. In vitro, the decoction inhibited FLS proliferation and reduced key protein and mRNA levels. The findings suggest that Longzuan Tongbi Decoction may inhibit abnormal FLS proliferation and mitigate joint pathology by modulating the TLR signaling pathway, highlighting its potential therapeutic effects in RA.

LU, X.; WEI, S.; WU, L.; LIAO, L.; NONG, Y. & HUANG, A. Study on the mechanism of Zhuang medicine Longzuan Tongbi decoction in regulating toll-like receptor signaling pathway to intervene in the proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Int. J. Morphol., 43(1):99- 109, 2025.