Influence of modified Shaogan Fuzi Decoction on expressions of OPG-RANKL of rats with type II collagen-induced arthritis

Objective: To investigate the influence of modified Shaogan Fuzi Decoction(SGFZ) on expressions of OPG and RANKL of rats with collagen-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods: Type Ⅱ collagen of beef was emulsified with complete Freund,s adjuvant and used for intradermal immunization in left foot plantar and tail base of rats in model group, and enhanced immune on the 7th day, in order to established the CIA model. After animal models were established, rats in model group and control group received gavage administration with normal saline(0.9%NS), rats in tripterygium wilfordii group received gavage administration with tripterygium wilfordii, and rats in SGFZ group received gavage administration with high, middle and low dosage of SGFZ. Arthritis index(AI) and toe swelling degree of rats in each group, and pathologic change after treatment were observed. The expression levels of osteoprotegerin(OPG) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand(RANKL) were determined by using Elisa. Results: High and middle dosage of SGFZ decoction could relieve the toe swelling degree(P0.01) and the pathological lesion, up-regulate the OPG expression and down-regulate the expression of RANKL, RANKL/OPG(P0.01). Conclusion: AGFZ could protect joint destruction, and the mechanism might be related with the regulation on the expression level of OPG and RANKL.