Astragalosides inhibit proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in experimental arthritis by modulating LncRNA S56464.1/miR-152-3p/Wnt1 signaling axis

Abstract

Aim: Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge., the dried root of the plant A. membranaceus, is widely used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in many Chinese herbal remedies. Astragalosides (AST) is the primary medicinal ingredient of A. membranaceus and has a therapeutic effect on RA, but the specific mechanism of this effect has yet to be elucidated.

Methods: In this study, MTT and flow cytometry were used to determine the effects of AST on fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) proliferation and cell cycle progression. Additionally, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting were used to determine the effects of AST on the LncRNA S56464.1/miR-152-3p/Wnt1 signaling axis and on critical genes that are essential to the Wnt pathway.

Results: The data showed that after the administration of AST, FLS proliferation and LncRNA S56464.1, β-catenin, C-myc, Cyclin D1, and p-GSK-3β(Ser9)/GSK-3β expression were significantly reduced, and miR-152 and SFRP4 expression was notably increased.

Conclusion: These results suggest that AST can inhibit FLS proliferation by modulating the LncRNA S56464.1/miR-152-3p/Wnt1 signaling axis and that AST may be a potential therapeutic drug for RA.

Keywords: LncRNA S56464.1/miR-152-3p/Wnt1 signaling axis; astragalosides; competing endogenous RNAs; fibroblast-like synoviocytes; rheumatoid arthritis.