Oxymatrine prevents synovial inflammation and migration via blocking NF-κB activation in rheumatoid fibroblast-like synoviocytes

The fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) has the aggressive phenotype, which is very important for cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To the pathology of RA, the increased FLSs migration, activation and proliferation are essential factors. Oxymatrine is a traditional Chinese herb, which is the extraction from the root of Sophora flavescens and regarded as quinolizidine alkaloid compounds and has been shown to inhibit inflammation, proliferation and migration in vitro or vivo. However, whether oxymatrine effects in the treatment of RA FLSs is undefined. In our study, the inhibition of oxymatrine in RA FLSs inflammation, proliferation and migration in RA FLS are evaluated. We found that oxymatrine decreased the IL-6 and IL-8 expression and the proliferation, migration and invasion of RA FLSs. We also evaluated the molecular mechanisms and we found the effect of oxymatrine on NF-κB activation. The results showed that oxymatrine inhibited the activity of NF-κB. And the treatment activity of oxymatrine on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was further explored by us. Thus, we conclude that oxymatrine may protect joint destruction of RA by inhibiting synoviocyte activation, migration, invasion, and proliferation. •Oxymatrine inhibits IL-6 and IL-8 expression of RA FLSs.•Oxymatrine suppresses proliferation in RA FLSs.•Oxymatrine suppresses the migration and invasion of RA FLSs.•Oxymatrine regulates NF-κB signal in RA FLSs.•Oxymatrine attenuates synovial inflammation in mice with CIA.