Effect of Aconitum diphtheria on the Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Inflammatory Response of Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a highly disabling autoimmune disease, is characterized by joint damage and synovial hyperplasia. This paper was designed to explore the effect and mechanisms of Aconitum diphtheria on the proliferation and apoptosis of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA-FLS). First, RA-FLS was treated with different doses of A. diphtheria extracts. Then, an inverted biological microscope was adopted to observe the RA-FLS morphology. Subsequently, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling staining, Cell Counting Kit-8 and western blot were utilized to analyze the apoptosis, proliferation, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathway-related proteins in RA-FLS, respectively. The experimental results disclosed that, after treatment of RA-FLS with A. diphtheria extracts, the cells became round and the intercellular space was increased. Besides, the RA-FLS proliferation was effectively inhibited by A. diphtheria extracts, while the apoptosis was promoted. Additionally, A. diphtheria extracts could effectively downregulate the expression levels of p-NF-κB (p50), NF-κB (p50), p-NF-κB (p65), and NF-κB (p65). Collectively, A. diphtheria can effectively inhibit RA-FLS proliferation and promote apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Similarly, A. diphtheria is able to downregulate p-NF-κB and NF-κB protein expression, but there is no dose–response relationship.