Open Access

Artesunate influences Th17/Treg lymphocyte balance by modulating Treg apoptosis and Th17 proliferation in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis

  • Authors:
    • Jia Liu
    • Xuezhi Hong
    • Dong Lin
    • Xiaohong Luo
    • Mengya Zhu
    • Hanyou Mo
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: March 17, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4232
  • Pages: 2267-2273
  • Copyright: © Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells and T-helper 17 (Th17) cells have been shown to have important roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In our previous study, it was demonstrated that artesunate was able to alter the Treg/Th17 ratio in patients with RA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study established a male Sprague Dawley (SD) rat model of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). SD rats were divided into normal control, CIA model and artesunate-treated (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg/day) groups. Treg and Th17 cells were detected in the synovium by immunohistochemical analysis of forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (Foxp3) and interleukin (IL)-17 expression. Subsequently, lymphocytes were extracted from the rat spleens, and the proportions of Treg/Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of Foxp3 were significantly decreased, and those of IL-17 were significantly increased, in the CIA model group, as compared with the normal control group. The results demonstrated that artesunate decreased the frequency of Th17 cells and increased the frequency of Treg cells in CIA rats in a dose‑dependent manner. In conclusion, the present study suggested that artesunate may regulate the Th17/Treg balance by inducing Th17-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, artesunate may be considered a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of patients with RA.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

May-2017
Volume 13 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Liu J, Hong X, Lin D, Luo X, Zhu M and Mo H: Artesunate influences Th17/Treg lymphocyte balance by modulating Treg apoptosis and Th17 proliferation in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. Exp Ther Med 13: 2267-2273, 2017
APA
Liu, J., Hong, X., Lin, D., Luo, X., Zhu, M., & Mo, H. (2017). Artesunate influences Th17/Treg lymphocyte balance by modulating Treg apoptosis and Th17 proliferation in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 13, 2267-2273. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4232
MLA
Liu, J., Hong, X., Lin, D., Luo, X., Zhu, M., Mo, H."Artesunate influences Th17/Treg lymphocyte balance by modulating Treg apoptosis and Th17 proliferation in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 13.5 (2017): 2267-2273.
Chicago
Liu, J., Hong, X., Lin, D., Luo, X., Zhu, M., Mo, H."Artesunate influences Th17/Treg lymphocyte balance by modulating Treg apoptosis and Th17 proliferation in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 13, no. 5 (2017): 2267-2273. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2017.4232