1. Effects of Berberine on NLRP3 and IL-1β Expressions in Monocytic THP-1 Cells with Monosodium Urate Crystals-Induced Inflammation.
- Author
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Liu, Ya-Fei, Wen, Cai-Yu-Zhu, Chen, Zhe, Wang, Yu, Huang, Ying, and Tu, Sheng-Hao
- Subjects
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DRUG therapy for arthritis , *RNA analysis , *ALKALOIDS , *CELL culture , *ENZYME-linked immunosorbent assay , *FLUORESCENT antibody technique , *GOUT , *INFLAMMATION , *INTERLEUKINS , *MONOCYTES , *POLYMERASE chain reaction , *PROBABILITY theory , *PROTEINS , *STATISTICS , *URIC acid , *WESTERN immunoblotting , *DATA analysis , *DATA analysis software , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *ONE-way analysis of variance - Abstract
Background. Urate crystals-induced inflammation is a critical factor during the initiation of gouty arthritis. Berberine is well known for its anti-inflammatory activity. However, the underlying effects of berberine on monosodium urate crystals-induced inflammation remain obscure. Objectives. This study is set to explore the protective effect and mechanism of berberine on monosodium urate crystals-induced inflammation in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Methods. The mRNA levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β were measured by Real-Time PCR, and the protein levels of NLRP3 and IL-1β were determined by ELISA, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. Results. The NLRP3 and IL-1β expressions were significantly increased in model group compared to that in normal group (P<0.05). Meanwhile, there was significant reduction in the expressions of NLRP3 and IL-1β mRNA in groups 6.25 μM berberine and 25 μM berberine when compared with model group (P<0.05). Conclusions. Therefore, berberine alleviates monosodium urate crystals-induced inflammation by downregulating NLRP3 and IL-1β expressions. The regulatory effects of berberine may be related to the inactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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