Open AccessAnti‑inflammatory effects of gambogic acid in murine collagen‑induced arthritis through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway
Author(s) -
Qing Lai Wang,
Dong Zhen Yang,
Cunxian Lv
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
molecular medicine reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.727
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1791-3004
pISSN - 1791-2997
DOI - 10.3892/mmr.2018.8389
Subject(s) - gambogic acid , protein kinase b , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , arthritis , chemistry , tumor necrosis factor alpha , signal transduction , pharmacology , matrix metalloproteinase , apoptosis , cancer research , biochemistry , biology , immunology
Garcinia angustifolia is a dry resin secreted by Garcinia cambogia, which has the functions of breaking blood, detoxifying, stopping bleeding and killing insects. It is used for the treatment of cancer and brain edema. Gambogic acid is the primary active ingredient. The present study aimed to investigate the anti‑inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of gambogic acid on arthritis and the possible mechanisms. It was demonstrated that gambogic acid decreased arthritic scores in murine collagen‑induced arthritic mice. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α, interleukin (IL)‑1β, IL‑6 and IL‑18 concentrations, and caspase‑3 and caspase‑9 were significantly inhibited by gambogic acid in arthritic mice. Gambogic acid decreased matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‑2, MMP‑9, nuclear factor (NF)‑κB and phosphorylated‑p38 protein expression, and increased tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteases‑1 (TIMP‑1) protein expression in arthritic mice. Furthermore, the phosphoinositide 3‑kinase (PI3K)/AKT serine/threonine kinase (Akt) signaling pathway was induced in arthritic mice treated with gambogic acid. The results suggested that gambogic acid induced anti‑inflammatory effects in murine collagen‑induced arthritis, through the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and offers future potential for application in arthritis patients.