Abstract

MODIFICATION OF EXPRESSION OF TNF-α AND IL-10 RECEPTORS BY ANDROGRAPHOLIDE LOADED CHITOSAN NANOPARTICLES: A PROMISING APPROACH IN MANAGEMENT OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Pankaj Shard*, Aruna Bhatia, Monika Bansal and Geetika Verma

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Abstract

The present study evaluates the immunomodulatory efficacy of a natural molecule known as andrographolide (AG) in management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). AG is a diterpenoid lactone located inside the aerial portions of Andrographis paniculata. It has been reported to be used in traditional medicine system in India and China. RA is a debilitating autoimmune disorder manifested by the inflammation of synovial membranes, bones, and cartilages. These symptoms are often triggered by disparity in the levels of various cytokines leading to an inflammatory immune response. AG had been reported to be a potent anti-inflammatory agent but poor water solubility and physiological instability in gastro-intestinal tract restrict its use as an oral therapeutic agent. To overcome these limitations, AG was encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles and this particulate carrier system was explored for its immunomodulatory effects on the expression of Tumor Necrosis factor- α (TNF-α) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in a mouse model of RA. Immunohistochemistry of spleen of arthritic mice treated with AG elucidated significant decrease and increase in TNF-α and IL-10 immunopositive cells, respectively, suggesting AG as a good candidate for management of the RA safely and effectively.

Keywords: Andrographolide, Chitosan nanoparticles, Rheumatoid arthritis, Immunohistochemistry, TNF-?, IL-10.