Therapeutic effect of sodium arsenite on rheumatoid arthritis in rats

AIM:To study the molecular mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the effects of sodium arsenite on AP-1 and MIP-1. METHODS:32 Wistar female rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal control (C), arthritis (A), low concentration of sodium arsenite (LSA) and high concentration of sodium arsenite group (HSA).The LSA group and the HSA group were treated with sodium arsenite (0.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1 and 1.0 mg·kg^-1·d^-1) through abdominal cavity injection for 20 days. The normal control group and the model group were treated with saline (0.2 mL/d). The AP-1 and MIP-1α expression of synovium in four groups were determined by immunohistochemistry. Light microscope was used to observe the synovium with HE staining. RESULTS:Compared with C group, the expression of AP-1 and MIP-1α in the synovium up-regulated in A group (P<0.01) and were inhibited by sodium arsenite treatment (P<0.05), especially in HSA group. CONCLUSION:The activated AP-1 and MIP-1α play an important role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Sodium arsenite down-regulated the expression of AP-1 and MIP-1α and may have some therapeutic effects in RA.