Activation of RXR by bexarotene inhibits inflammatory conditions in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‑like synoviocytes

  • Authors:
    • Yu Li
    • Qunzhi Xing
    • Yuanzhang Wei
    • Lei Zhao
    • Pei Zhang
    • Xuechang Han
    • Jing Wang
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 10, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2019.4336
  • Pages: 1963-1970
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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating joint disease characterized by chronic inflammation, pathologic alteration of fibroblast‑like synoviocytes (FLS), destruction of cartilage and bone, and the formation of an invasive pannus. RA‑FLS exhibit increased proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. The retinoid X receptor (RXR) has a role in regulating cell cycle, differentiation and apoptosis, and agonism of RXR has been investigated as a treatment strategy in several types of cancer. However, there is little research on the effects of RXR agonism in other diseases. Bexarotene is a novel selective RXR ligand used in the treatment of T‑cell lymphoma. In the present study, bexarotene was used to investigate the involvement of RXR in tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α)‑induced RA conditions in human FLS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that RXR has been demonstrated to be expressed in FLS and to be downregulated in response to TNF‑α stimulation. The present study also demonstrated that bexarotene exerted an anti‑inflammatory effect by downregulating expression of interleukin (IL)‑6, IL‑8, monocyte chemoattractant protein‑1, and high mobility group box‑1. Notably, bexarotene also rescued the TNF‑α‑induced downregulation of the anti‑inflammatory cytokines IL‑4 and transforming growth factor‑β1. Bexarotene treatment exhibited a potential protective effect against cartilage degradation by downregulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‑1, MMP‑3 and MMP‑13. In addition, the present results demonstrated that the effects of bexarotene were mediated through the p38 mitogen‑activated protein kinase/nuclear factor‑κB pathway, via inhibition of p38 protein and the inhibitor α of κB phosphorylation. Taken together, the present findings demonstrated the potential of RXR agonism using bexarotene as a treatment against the development and progression of RA.
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November-2019
Volume 44 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Li Y, Xing Q, Wei Y, Zhao L, Zhang P, Han X and Wang J: Activation of RXR by bexarotene inhibits inflammatory conditions in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‑like synoviocytes. Int J Mol Med 44: 1963-1970, 2019.
APA
Li, Y., Xing, Q., Wei, Y., Zhao, L., Zhang, P., Han, X., & Wang, J. (2019). Activation of RXR by bexarotene inhibits inflammatory conditions in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‑like synoviocytes. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 44, 1963-1970. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2019.4336
MLA
Li, Y., Xing, Q., Wei, Y., Zhao, L., Zhang, P., Han, X., Wang, J."Activation of RXR by bexarotene inhibits inflammatory conditions in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‑like synoviocytes". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 44.5 (2019): 1963-1970.
Chicago
Li, Y., Xing, Q., Wei, Y., Zhao, L., Zhang, P., Han, X., Wang, J."Activation of RXR by bexarotene inhibits inflammatory conditions in human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‑like synoviocytes". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 44, no. 5 (2019): 1963-1970. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2019.4336