Chinese herbal formula Huayu-Qiangshen-Tongbi decoction ameliorates rheumatoid arthritis through enhancing the release of exosomal miR-125b-5p derived from adipose-derived stem cells by CD63.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and multifactorial inflammatory disease inducing damages in joints and extra-articular organs. Our previous study has revealed that Huayu-Qiangshen-Tongbi decoction (HQT) ameliorates RA through upregulating microRNA (miRNA) miR-125b-5p to suppress inflammation in rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs). However, the mechanism of HQT increasing miR-125b-5p level in FLSs remains unclear. It has been reported that exosomal miR-125b-5p derived from adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) could ameliorate various diseases, yet the effect of exosomal miR-125b-5p derived from ADSCs on FLSs in RA under HQT treatment is largely unknown. The aim is to investigate whether HQT upregulated miR-125b-5p in FLSs through modifying exosomal miR-125b-5p derived from ASCs. Methods Here, HQT-containing serum was prepared, co-culture of human FLS MH7A cells with ADSCs was performed, gene knockdown in ADSCs was assessed by short hairpin RNA (shRNA), protein degradation was identified after cycloheximide (CHX) treatment and ADSC-derived exosomes were collected to incubate MH7A cells and inject into RA rat model. Results HQT elevates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-reduced miR-125b-5p level in FLSs by enhancing the secretion of exosomal miR-125b-5p derived from ADSCs. Besides, HQT attenuates inflammation of FLSs in RA by exosomal miR-125b-5p derived from ADS

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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