【Animal Modeling】-How to verify the effect of psoralen on the mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis?

  Objective: To investigate the effect of psoralen on rheumatoid arthritis induced by type Ⅱ collagen, and to preliminarily explore the molecular mechanism of its effect.

  Method: Select DBA/1J mice, and use type II bovine collagen to induce rheumatoid arthritis mouse model. The successfully modeled mice were randomly divided into three groups: psoralen (PSO), methotrexate (MTX) and model control (vehicle). Intragastric administration, observe joint changes and score. Weigh and calculate the spleen index, flow cytometry to determine the number of Th1 and Th2 cells in splenic lymphocytes, and ELISA to detect the changes in the expression of serum related inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β.

  Result: Compared with the vehicle group, the PSO group significantly reduced ankle swelling and restricted mobility. Compared with the model control group, the spleen index of the PSO group was significantly reduced, and the proportion of Th1 lymphocytes was significantly reduced. Vehicle group. There was no significant difference in the ratio of Th2 lymphocytes. ELISA results showed that serum TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the PSO group were significantly lower than those in the carrier group. There was no statistical difference between the PSO group and the MTX group.

  Conclusion: Psoralen regulates the balance of Th1/Th2 cells by inhibiting TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β and exerts an immunoregulatory effect, thereby reducing the process of RA.