Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic systemic inflammatory process that predominantly affects the synovial joints. In active RA, the synovial fluid is often associated with the sequestration of neutrophils. Recently IL-8, secreted by activated monocytes as well as by various types of cells, has been identified as a major neutrophil chemotactic factor. It attracts and activates neutrophils in inflammatory regions.
Neutrophils contain a wide spectrum of cartilage degrading enzymes which, upon stimulation, can be released along with cytotoxic oxygen metabolites. Activated neutrophils, therefore, may contribute, besides mononuclear phagocytes, chondrocytes, and other cells, to tissue damage at the site of inflammation. Synovial fluids from RA patients contain significantly more IL-8 than fluids from osteoarthritis patients.
As evidence for a major role for IL-8 in chronic inflammation is increasing, the search for possible physiological inhibitors and antagonists becomes an important goal.
In this research, I wanted to observe the inhibitory effects on the production of IL-8 of Acanthopanacis Cortex which has been used as a remedy for RA in oriental medicine. And then, there were siginificant inhibitory effects of Acanthopanacis Cortex on the production of IL-8 in the LPS stimulated human monocyte.
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