Abatacept alleviates rheumatoid arthritis development by inhibiting migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes via MAPK pathway

Q.-F. Zou, L. Li, Q.-R. Han, Y.-J. Wang, X.-B. Wang

Department of Rheumatology, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, China. uilao9352@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Abatacept could regulate the occurrence and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by mediating cell migration of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Levels of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13 in RA-FLS treated with Abatacept or MAPK pathway inhibitor were detected by quantitative Real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. The regulatory effect of Abatacept on MAPK pathway was detected by Western blot. Transwell assay was performed to access the role of Abatacept in regulating cell migration of RA-FLS.
RESULTS: Abatacept treatment remarkably downregulated levels of MMP1, MMP3 and MMP13 in FLS, which were confirmed by qRT-PCR and ELISA. Migratory ability of FLS was inhibited by Abatacept treatment. Western blot results suggested that Abatacept treatment downregulated MAPK pathway-related genes in FLS. The effects of Abatacept on MMPs expressions and cell migration were partially reversed by SB203580 treatment, the MAPK pathway inhibitor.
CONCLUSIONS: Abatacept inhibits FLS migration and MMPs expressions via inhibiting MAPK pathway, thereby inhibiting RA development.

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