Apoptosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast- like Synoviocytes Induced by Radix Paeoniae Rubra 801

Objective To explore the effect of radix paeoniae rubra 801( P801) on the apoptosis of fibroblast like synoviocytes( FLSs) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis( RA). Methods RA FLSs were primarily cultured from articular genu synovia of RA patients. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. According to the results of MTT,the cells were divided into high- dose group of P801( 64 μg /ml),low- dose group of P801( 4 μg /ml) and solvent control group. The cell morphology was observed by the optical inverted microscope. And the apoptotic rate was detected by Annexin V- FITC/PI double labeling staining. Results MTT results showed that P801 had the ability to inhibit RA FLS proliferation with a concentration dependence manner. Flow cytometry results showed that P801 could induce the apoptosis of RA FLS. The apoptotic rate in low- dose group of P801 did not significantly increase as compared with the control( P 0. 05),but it was significantly increased in high- dose group of P801( P 0. 05). Conclusions P801 has the function to inhibit proliferation of RA FLS and induce its apoptosis.