New drug targets for the treatment of gout arthritis: what's new?

INTRODUCTION: Gout arthritis (GA) is an intermittent inflammatory disease affecting approximately 10% of the worldwide population. Symptomatic phases (acute flares) are timely spaced by asymptomatic periods. During an acute attack, redness, joint swelling, limited movement, and excruciating pain are common symptoms. However, the current available therapies are not fully effective in reducing symptoms and offer numerous side effects. Therefore, unveiling new drug targets and effector molecules are required in developing novel GA therapeutics. AREAS COVERED: This review discusses the pathophysiological mechanisms of GA and explores potential pharmacological targets to ameliorate disease outcome. In addition, we listed promising pre-clinical studies demonstrating effector molecules with therapeutical potential. Among those, we emphasized the importance of natural products, including traditional Chinese medicine formulas and their multitarget mechanisms of action. EXPERT OPINION: In our search, we observed that there is a massive gap between pre-clinical and clinical knowledge. Only a minority (4.4%) of clinical trials aimed to intervene by applying natural products or current hot targets described herein. In this sense, we envisage four possibilities for GA therapeutics, which include the repurposing of existing therapies, ALX/FPR2 agonism for improvement in disease outcome, the use of multitarget drugs (e.g. natural products), and targeting the neuroinflammatory component of GA.

Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators: Endogenous Roles and Pharmacological Activities in Infections.

During an infection, inflammation mobilizes immune cells to eliminate the pathogen and protect the host. However, inflammation can be detrimental when exacerbated and/or chronic. The resolution phase of the inflammatory process is actively orchestrated by the specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs), generated from omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that bind to different G-protein coupled receptors to exert their activity. As immunoresolvents, SPMs regulate the influx of leukocytes to the inflammatory site, reduce cytokine and chemokine levels, promote bacterial clearance, inhibit the export of viral transcripts, enhance efferocytosis, stimulate tissue healing, and lower antibiotic requirements. Metabolomic studies have evaluated SPM levels in patients and animals during infection, and temporal regulation of SPMs seems to be essential to properly coordinate a response against the microorganism. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on SPM biosynthesis and classifications, endogenous production profiles and their effects in animal models of bacterial, viral and parasitic infections.

Development of trans-Chalcone loaded pectin/casein biodegradable microcapsules: Efficacy improvement in the management of experimental colitis.

Improved therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases are sorely needed. Novel therapeutic agents and the development of controlled release systems for targeted tissue delivery are interesting approaches to overcome these barriers. We investigated the activity of trans-chalcone (T) in acetic acid-induced colitis in mice and developed, characterized, and determined the therapeutic effect of pectin/casein polymer microcapsules containing T (MT) in a colitis mouse model. In vitro, compound release was achieved in simulated intestinal fluid but not in the simulated gastric fluid. In vivo, since T at the dose of 3 mg/kg but not 0.3 mg/kg ameliorated colitis, we next tested the effects of MT at 0.3 mg/kg (non-effective dose). MT, but not free T at 0.3 mg/kg, significantly improved colitis outcomes such as neutrophil recruitment, antioxidant capacity, cytokine production, and NF-kB activation. This translated into reduced macro and microscopic damage in the colon. T release from the microcapsules is mediated by a pH-dependent and pectinase-regulated mechanism that provide controlled and prolonged release of T. Moreover, MT lowered the required dose for T therapeutic effect, indicating that could be a suitable pharmaceutical approach to colitis treatment. This is the first demonstration that T or MT is effective at reducing the signs of colitis.

Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) Landrum extract inhibits inflammatory pain in mice: targeting neutrophil recruitment, oxidative stress, and cytokine production.

Pimenta pseudocaryophyllus (Gomes) Landrum is a Brazilian native plant. The mechanisms by which it promotes analgesia are unknown. We demonstrated the analgesic effect of P. pseudocaryophyllus dried extract (3 mg/kg; i.p.) in the following models of inflammatory pain (maximal inhibition): phenyl-p-benzoquinone (89%), formalin (72% - 1st phase and 96% - 2nd phase for flinches, and 50% - 1st phase and 71% - 2nd phase for licking behavior), complete Freund's adjuvant (95% - flinches and 33% - licking behavior), and carrageenin (56% - mechanical and 85% - thermal hyperalgesia) without motor impairment. Its analgesic effect depends on inhibiting neutrophil recruitment (95% - histopathology, 83% - myeloperoxidase activity, and 80% - LysM-eGFP mice), oxidative stress (86% - GSH and 98% - superoxide anion), and cytokine production (35% - IL-33, 80% - TNF-α, and 95% - IL-1ß). The present study advances in understanding the analgesic mechanisms of P. pseudocaryophyllus.

Culture of preantral ovarian follicles of Bos taurus indicus with alpha-lipoic acid.

The aim of this study was to evaluate follicular development, morphological integrity, and antioxidant potential of preantral ovarian follicles from Bos taurus indicus females grown in vitro with alpha-lipoic acid. Ovaries (n = 24) of Bos taurus indicus (n = 12) females were collected during slaughter and fragmented. A randomly obtained fragment from each pair of ovaries was fixed in Bouin (non-cultivated control; D0). These fragments were intended for classical histology (morphology and evaluation of follicular growth), and a fragment from each pair of ovaries was frozen at -80°C (non-cultivated control; D0), and assigned for analysis of oxidative stress [thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)]. The remaining fragments were cultured in vitro for 6 (D6) or 12 (D12) days, containing only minimum essential medium (MEM) or MEM supplemented with alpha-lipoic acid (50, 100, or 250 ng/ml), on an extracellular matrix of agarose gel, in an oven at 38.5ºC. Every 2 days, 100% of the culture medium was replaced. Supplementation with 100 ng/ml was effective for maintaining follicular integrity after 6 days of culture (primordial: 51.28%; development: 36.88%; P < 0.0001). There was no difference (P > 0.05) between treatments compared with the non-cultivated control treatment (D0), using the NBT and TBARS assays. Therefore, supplementation of the in vitro culture medium of bovine preantral ovarian follicles with a concentration of 100 ng/ml of alpha-lipoic acid at 6 days of culture was effective for maintaining follicular integrity and, after 6 days, maintaining stable levels of reactive oxygen species.

Follicular development, morphological integrity, and oxidative stress in bovine preantral follicles cultured in vitro with ascorbic acid.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the follicular development, morphological integrity, and oxidative stress of preantral ovarian follicles from Bos taurus indicus females grown in vitro with ascorbic acid. Ovaries (n = 20) from Bos taurus indicus females were collected, fragmented, and were cultured in vitro for 6 or 12 days in minimum essential medium (MEM), or MEM supplemented with 50 or 100 ng/ml ascorbic acid, with an extracellular matrix of agarose gel, in an incubator at 38.5°C; every 2 days, 100% of the culture medium was replaced. The data were analyzed using the chi-squared test and/or Fisher's exact test. In the event of a significant effect, the proportions were compared using a 2 × 2 proportion test. The oxidative stress analysis data were submitted to analysis of variance followed by the Bonferroni test. Values were considered significant when P ≤ 0.05. The addition of 100 ng/ml of ascorbic acid to the in vitro culture medium of preantral ovarian follicles from bovine females promoted follicular development, was efficient in maintaining morphological integrity, as well as the stability of reactive oxygen species, after 6 days of in vitro culture.

Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski-derived kaurenoic acid prevents ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice: Effect on Th2 cytokines, STAT6/GATA-3 signaling, NFκB/Nrf2 redox sensitive pathways, and regulatory T cell phenotype markers.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski is used in traditional medicine in Brazil for inflammatory diseases treatment including asthma. The diterpene kaurenoic acid (KA) is one of its active compounds, but whether KA activity could explain the traditional use of S. trilobata in asthma is unknown. AIM: Investigate KA effect and mechanisms in asthma. METHODS: Experimental asthma was induced by ovalbumin immunization and challenge in male Swiss mice. KA (0.1-10 mg/kg, gavage) was administered 1 h before the ovalbumin challenge. Total leukocytes, eosinophil, and mast cell were counted in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung histopathology was performed. Lung mRNA expression of Th2 and regulatory T cells markers, and BALF type 2 cytokine production were quantitated. NFκB activation and oxidative stress-related components in pulmonary tissue were measured. RESULTS: KA inhibited the migration of total leukocytes and eosinophils to BALF, reduced lung histopathology (inflammatory cells and mast cells), mRNA expression of IL-33/ST2, STAT6/GATA-3 and NFκB activation in the lung, and reduced IL-33, IL-4, IL-5 production in the BALF. KA also reduced the mRNA expression of iNOS and gp91phox, and superoxide anion production accompanied by the induction of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 mRNA expression, thus, exerting an antioxidant effect. Finally, KA induced nTreg-like and Tr1-like, but not Th3-like markers of suppressive T cell phenotypes in the lung tissue. CONCLUSION: KA prevents antigen-induced asthma by down-regulating Th2 and NFκB/cytokine-related pathways, and up-regulating Nrf2 and regulatory T cells' markers. Thus, explaining the ethnopharmacological use of S. trilobata for the treatment of lung inflammatory diseases.

Low dose of quercetin-loaded pectin/casein microparticles reduces the oxidative stress in arthritic rats.

AIMS: Quercetin has been investigated as an agent to treat rheumatoid arthritis. At high doses it improves inflammation and the antioxidant status of arthritic rats, but it also exerts mitochondriotoxic and pro-oxidant activities. Beneficial effects of quercetin have not been found at low doses because of its chemical instability and low bioavailability. In the hope of overcoming these problems this study investigated the effects of long-term administration of quercetin-loaded pectin/casein microparticles on the oxidative status of liver and brain of rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis. MAIN METHODS: Particle morphology was viewed with transmission electron microscopy and the encapsulation efficiency was measured indirectly by X-ray diffraction. Quercetin microcapsules (10 mg/Kg) were orally administered to rats during 60 days. Inflammation indicators and oxidative stress markers were measured in addition to the respiratory activity and ROS production in isolated mitochondria. KEY FINDINGS: Quercetin was efficiently encapsulated inside the polymeric matrix, forming a solid amorphous solution. The administration of quercetin microparticles to arthritic rats almost normalized protein carbonylation, lipid peroxidation, the levels of reactive oxygen species as well as the reduced glutathione content in both liver and brain. The paw edema in arthritic rats was not responsive, but the plasmatic activity of ALT and the mitochondrial respiration were not affected by quercetin, indicating absence of mitochondriotoxic or hepatotoxic actions. SIGNIFICANCE: Quercetin-loaded pectin/casein microcapsules orally administered at a low dose improve oxidative stress of arthritic rats without a strong anti-inflammatory activity. This supports the long-term use of quercetin as an antioxidant agent to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Protection against UVB deleterious skin effects in a mouse model: effect of a topical emulsion containing Cordia verbenacea extract.

Cordia verbenacea DC (Boraginaceae) is a flowering shrub found along the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, Brazilian coast, and low areas of the Amazon. The crude extract of its leaves is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory, both topically and orally. The aim of this study is to evaluate the activity of C. verbenacea ethanolic leaves extract (CVE) against UVB-triggered cutaneous inflammation and oxidative damage in hairless mice. CVE treatment recovered cutaneous antioxidant capacity demonstrated by scavenging ABTS+ free radical and iron-reducing antioxidant potential evaluated by FRAP. CVE also controlled the following UV-triggered events in the skin: reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion, catalase activity decrease, and superoxide anion (O⋅-) build-up. Furthermore, mice treated with CVE exhibited less inflammation, shown by the reduction in COX-2 expression, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, edema, and neutrophil infiltration. CVE also regulated epidermal thickening and sunburn cells, reduced dermal mast cells, and preserved collagen integrity. The best results were obtained using 5% CVE-added emulsion. The present data demonstrate that topical administration of CVE presents photochemoprotective activity in a mouse model of UVB inflammation and oxidative stress. Because of the intricate network linking inflammation, oxidative stress, and skin cancer, these results also indicate the importance of further studies elucidating a possible role of C. verbenacea in the prevention of UVB-induced skin cancer and evaluating a potential synergy between CVE and sunscreens in topical products against UVB damaging effects to the skin.

The diterpene from Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski, kaurenoic acid, reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced peritonitis and pain in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski is a plant species belonging to the Asteraceae family. Kaurenoid acid (KA) is a diterpene metabolite and one of the active ingredients of Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski. Extracts containing KA are used in traditional medicine to treat pain, inflammation, and infection. AIM: The goal of the present study was to investigate the in vivo effects of KA (1-10 mg/kg, per oral gavage) upon LPS inoculation in mice by intraperitoneal (i.p.) or intraplantar (i.pl.; subcutaneous plantar injection) routes at the dose of 200 ng (200 µL or 25 µL, respectively). METHODS: In LPS paw inflammation, mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia MPO activity and oxidative imbalance (TBARS, GSH, ABTS and FRAP assays) were evaluated. In LPS peritonitis we evaluated leukocyte migration, cytokine production, oxidative stress, and NF-κB activation. RESULTS: KA inhibited LPS-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, MPO activity and modulated redox status in the mice paw. Pre- and post-treatment with KA inhibited migration of neutrophils and monocytes in LPS peritonitis. KA inhibited the pro-inflammatory/hyperalgesic cytokine (e.g., TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-33) production while enhanced anti-inflammatory/analgesic cytokine IL-10 in peritoneal cavity. In agreement with the effect of KA over pro-inflammatory cytokines it inhibited oxidative stress (total ROS, superoxide production and superoxide positive cells) and NF-κB activation during peritonitis. CONCLUSION: KA efficiently dampens LPS-induced peritonitis and hyperalgesia in vivo, suggesting it as a suitable candidate to control excessive inflammation and pain during gram-negative bacterial infections and bringing mechanistic explanation to the ethnopharmacological application of Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski in inflammation and infection.

Protective effect of oral treatment with Cordia verbenacea extract against UVB irradiation deleterious effects in the skin of hairless mouse.

Photochemoprotection of the skin can be achieved by inhibiting inflammation and oxidative stress, which we tested using Cordia verbenacea extract, a medicinal plant known for its rich content of antioxidant molecules and anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro antioxidant evaluation of Cordia verbenacea leaves ethanolic extract (CVE) presented the following results: ferric reducing antioxidant power (886.32 µM equivalent of Trolox/g extract); IC50 of 19.128 µg/ml for scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; IC50 of 12.48 µg/mL for scavenging 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid); decrease of hydroperoxides from linoleic acid (IC50 of 10.20 µg/mL); inhibition of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (IC50 8.90 µg/mL); iron-chelating ability in bathophenanthroline iron assay (IC50 47.35 µg/mL); chemiluminescence triggered by free radicals in the H2O2/horseradish peroxidase/luminol (IC50 0.286 µg/mL) and xanthine/xanthine oxidase/luminol (IC50 0.42 µg/mL) methods. CVE (10-100 mg per kg, 30 min before and immediately after UVB exposure) treatment was performed by gavage in hairless mice. CVE inhibited skin edema, neutrophil infiltration, and overproduction of MMP-9; reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL- 6; numbers of skin mast cells, epidermal thickening, number of epidermal apoptotic keratinocytes, and collagen degradation. CVE increased the skin's natural antioxidant defenses as observed by Nrf-2, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1, and heme oxygenase 1 mRNA expression enhancement. Furthermore, CVE inhibited lipid peroxidation and superoxide anion production and recovered antioxidant reduced glutathione, catalase activity, and ROS scavenging capacity of the skin. Concluding, CVE downregulates the skin inflammatory and oxidative damages triggered by UVB, demonstrating its potentialities as a therapeutic approach.

Methyl gallate attenuates inflammation induced by Toll-like receptor ligands by inhibiting MAPK and NF-Κb signaling pathways.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Methyl gallate (MG) is a prevalent polyphenol in the plant kingdom, which may be related to the effects of several medicinal plants. Although it is widely reported that polyphenols have therapeutic effects, there are few studies demonstrating that MG has anti-inflammatory action. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism behind the anti-inflammatory activity of MG and its effect on hyperalgesia. METHODS: Swiss mice were pretreated orally with different doses of MG and subjected to i.pl. injection of zymosan to induce paw edema. RAW264.7 macrophages and BMDMs stimulated with different TLR agonists such as zymosan, LPS, or Pam3CSK4 were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms of MG RESULTS: MG inhibits zymosan-induced paw edema and hyperalgesia and modulates molecular pathways crucial for inflammation development. Pretreatment with MG inhibited cytokines production and NF-κB activity by RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with zymosan, Pam3CSK4 or LPS, but not with PMA. Moreover, pretreatment with MG decreased IκB degradation, nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65, c-jun and c-fos and ERK1/2, p38 and JNK phosphorylation. CONCLUSION: Thus, the results of this study demonstrate that MG has a promising anti-inflammatory effect and suggests an explanation of its mechanism of action through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling and the MAPK pathway.

Analgesic activity and mechanism of action of a Beta vulgaris dye enriched in betalains in inflammatory models in mice.

Evidence demonstrates the pronounced anti-inflammatory activity of a beetroot (Beta vulgaris) dye enriched in betalains obtained using precipitation with ethanol. Herein, we expand upon our previous observations and demonstrate the analgesic and antioxidant effect of betalains. Betalains [10-1000 mg/kg; intraperitoneal route (i.p.)] diminished acetic acid- and PBQ-induced abdominal contortions, and the overt pain-like behaviour induced by complete Freund`s adjuvant (CFA) and formalin (intraplantar; i.pl.) injection. Moreover, betalains (100 mg/kg) administered by various routes [i.p. or subcutaneous (s.c.)] or as a post-treatment reduced carrageenin- or CFA-induced hyperalgesia. Mechanistically, betalains mitigated carrageenin-induced tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1ß, superoxide anion levels, and lipid peroxidation. Betalains also stopped the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and ferric reducing ability produced by carrageenin, as well as upregulated Nrf2 and Ho1 transcript expression in the plantar tissue of mice. Furthermore, betalains showed hydroxyl radical, 2,2'-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical (ABTS+), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl radical (DPPH•) scavenging ability and iron-chelating activity (bathophenantroline assay), and inhibited iron-independent and iron-dependent lipid peroxidation (LPO) in vitro. Finally, betalains-treated bone marrow-derived macrophages exhibited lower levels of cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß), and superoxide anion levels and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Therefore, this betalain-rich dye extracted using a novel precipitation approach presents prominent analgesic effect in varied models of pain by mechanisms targeting cytokines and oxidative stress.

Therapeutic Potential of Flavonoids in Pain and Inflammation: Mechanisms of Action, Pre-Clinical and Clinical Data, and Pharmaceutical Development.

Pathological pain can be initiated after inflammation and/or peripheral nerve injury. It is a consequence of the pathological functioning of the nervous system rather than only a symptom. In fact, pain is a significant social, health, and economic burden worldwide. Flavonoids are plant derivative compounds easily found in several fruits and vegetables and consumed in the daily food intake. Flavonoids vary in terms of classes, and while structurally unique, they share a basic structure formed by three rings, known as the flavan nucleus. Structural differences can be found in the pattern of substitution in one of these rings. The hydroxyl group (-OH) position in one of the rings determines the mechanisms of action of the flavonoids and reveals a complex multifunctional activity. Flavonoids have been widely used for their antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects along with safe preclinical and clinical profiles. In this review, we discuss the preclinical and clinical evidence on the analgesic and anti-inflammatory proprieties of flavonoids. We also focus on how the development of formulations containing flavonoids, along with the understanding of their structure-activity relationship, can be harnessed to identify novel flavonoid-based therapies to treat pathological pain and inflammation.

Specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators: A new class of non-immunosuppressive and non-opioid analgesic drugs.

We now appreciate that the mechanism of resolution depends on an active and time-dependent biosynthetic shift from pro-inflammatory to pro-resolution mediators, the so-called specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators (SPMs). These SPMs are biosynthesized from the omega-3 fatty acids arachidonic acid (AA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Despite effective for a fraction of patients with rheumatic diseases and neuropathic pain, current analgesic therapies such as biological agents, opioids, corticoids, and gabapentinoids cause unwanted side effects, such as immunosuppression, addiction, or induce analgesic tolerance. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that isolated SPMs show efficacy at very low doses and have been successively used as therapeutic drugs to treat pain and infection in experimental models showing no side effects. Moreover, SPMs work as immunoresolvents and some of them present long-lasting analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects (i.e. block pain without immunosuppressive effects). In this review, we focus on how SPMs block pain, infection and neuro-immune interactions and, therefore, emerge as a new class of non-immunosuppressive and non-opioid analgesic drugs.

The specialised pro-resolving lipid mediator maresin 1 reduces inflammatory pain with a long-lasting analgesic effect.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Maresin 1 (MaR1) is a specialised pro-resolving lipid mediator with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities. In this study, we addressed the modulation of peripheral and spinal cord cells by MaR1 in the context of inflammatory pain. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Mice were treated with MaR1 before intraplantar injection of carrageenan or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Mechanical hyperalgesia was assessed using the electronic von Frey and thermal hyperalgesia using a hot plate. Spinal cytokine production and NF-κB activation were determined by ELISA and astrocytes and microglia activation by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence. CGRP release by dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons was determined by EIA. Neutrophil and macrophage recruitment were determined by immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and colorimetric methods. Trpv1 and Nav1.8 expression and calcium imaging of DRG neurons were determined by RT-qPCR and Fluo-4AM respectively. KEY RESULTS: MaR1 reduced carrageenan- and CFA-induced mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia and neutrophil and macrophage recruitment proximal to CGRP+ fibres in the paw skin. Moreover, MaR1 reduced NF-κB activation, IL-1ß and TNF-α production, and spinal cord glial cells activation. In the DRG, MaR1 reduced CFA-induced Nav1.8 and Trpv1 mRNA expression and calcium influx and capsaicin-induced release of CGRP by DRG neurons. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: MaR1 reduced DRG neurons activation and CGRP release explaining, at least in part, its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. The enduring analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and also post-treatment activity of MaR1 suggest that specialised pro-resolving lipid mediators have potential as a new class of drugs for the treatment of inflammatory pain.

The citrus flavanone naringenin attenuates zymosan-induced mouse joint inflammation: induction of Nrf2 expression in recruited CD45+ hematopoietic cells.

BACKGROUND: Naringenin is a biologically active analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant flavonoid. Naringenin targets in inflammation-induced articular pain remain poorly explored. METHODS: The present study investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the analgesic/anti-inflammatory effects of naringenin in zymosan-induced arthritis. Mice were pre-treated orally with naringenin (16.7-150 mg/kg), followed by intra-articular injection of zymosan. Articular mechanical hyperalgesia and oedema, leucocyte recruitment to synovial cavity, histopathology, expression/production of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators and NFκB activation, inflammasome component expression, and oxidative stress were evaluated. RESULTS: Naringenin inhibited articular pain and oedema in a dose-dependent manner. The dose of 50 mg/kg inhibited leucocyte recruitment, histopathological alterations, NFκB activation, and NFκB-dependent pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-33), and preproET-1 mRNA expression, but increased anti-inflammatory IL-10. Naringenin also inhibited inflammasome upregulation (reduced Nlrp3, ASC, caspase-1, and pro-IL-1ß mRNA expression) and oxidative stress (reduced gp91phox mRNA expression and superoxide anion production, increased GSH levels, induced Nrf2 protein in CD45+ hematopoietic recruited cells, and induced Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expression). CONCLUSIONS: Naringenin presents analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in zymosan-induced arthritis by targeting its main physiopathological mechanisms. These data highlight this flavonoid as an interesting therapeutic compound to treat joint inflammation, deserving additional pre-clinical and clinical studies.

15d-PGJ2-loaded nanocapsules ameliorate experimental gout arthritis by reducing pain and inflammation in a PPAR-gamma-sensitive manner in mice.

Gout arthritis (GA) is a painful inflammatory disease in response to monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints. 15deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2 (15d-PGJ2) is a natural activator of PPAR-γ with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and pro-resolution properties. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effect and mechanisms of action of 15d-PGJ2 nanocapsules (NC) in the model of GA in mice, since a reduction of 33-fold in the dose of 15d-PGJ2 has been reported. Mice were treated with 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC, inert NC, free 15d-PGJ2 (without NC), or 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC+ GW9662, a PPAR-γ inhibitor. We show that 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC provided analgesic effect in a dose that the free 15d-PGJ2 failed to inhibiting pain and inflammation. Hence, 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC reduced MSU-induced IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-33 release and oxidative stress. Also, 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC decreased the maturation of IL-1ß in LPS-primed BMDM triggered by MSU. Further, 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC decreased the expression of the components of the inflammasome Nlrp3, Asc, and Pro-caspase-1, as consequence of inhibiting NF-κB activation. All effects were PPAR-γ-sensitive. Therefore, we demonstrated that 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC present analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in a PPAR-γ-dependent manner inhibiting IL-1ß release and NF-κB activation in GA. Concluding, 15d-PGJ2-loaded NC ameliorates MSU-induced GA in a PPAR-γ-sensitive manner.

Capsaicin: Current Understanding of Its Mechanisms and Therapy of Pain and Other Pre-Clinical and Clinical Uses.

In this review, we discuss the importance of capsaicin to the current understanding of neuronal modulation of pain and explore the mechanisms of capsaicin-induced pain. We will focus on the analgesic effects of capsaicin and its clinical applicability in treating pain. Furthermore, we will draw attention to the rationale for other clinical therapeutic uses and implications of capsaicin in diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, cancer, airway diseases, itch, gastric, and urological disorders.

Light-emitting diodes at 940nm attenuate colitis-induced inflammatory process in mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) presents intense inflammatory infiltrate, crypt abscesses, ulceration and even loss of function. Despite the clinical relevance of IBD, its current therapy remains poorly effective. Infrared wavelength phototherapy shows therapeutic potential on inflammation. Our goal was to evaluate whether light-emitting diodes (LED) at 940nm are capable of mitigating the colitis-induced inflammatory process in mice. Forty male Swiss mice were assigned into five groups: control; control treated with LED therapy; colitis without treatment; colitis treated with LED therapy; colitis treated with Prednisolone. Experimental colitis was induced by acetic acid 7.5% (pH2.5) rectal administration. LED therapy was performed with light characterized by wavelength of 940nm, 45nm bandwidth, intensity of 4.05J/cm(2), total power of 270mW and total dose of 64.8J for 4min in a single application. Colitis-induced intestinal transit delay was inhibited by LED therapy. Colitis caused an increase of colon dimensions (length, diameter, total area) and colon weight (edema), which were inhibited by LED therapy. LED therapy also decreased colitis-induced tissue gross lesion, myeloperoxidase activity, microscopic tissue damage score and the presence of inflammatory infiltrate in all intestinal layers. Furthermore, LED therapy inhibited colitis-induced IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 production. We conclude LED therapy at 940nm inhibited experimental colitis-induced colon inflammation in mice, therefore, rendering it a promising therapeutic approach that deserves further investigation.