Therapeutic Effect of Total Saponins from Dioscorea nipponica Makino on Gouty Arthritis Based on the NF‑κB Signal Pathway: An In vitro Study

Objective: Dioscorea nipponica Makino is one of the most common used traditional Chinese drugs which are used to treat gouty arthritis (GA). Nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) pathway plays an important role during this process. In the present study, we investigated the effects of total saponins from D. nipponica Makino (TDN) on NF‑κB pathway in interleukin‑1β (IL‑1β) induced fibroblast‑like synoviocytes (FLS). Materials and Methods: FLS were divided into three groups: Normal group, model group, which was given 10 µg/L IL‑1β to induce the proliferation, and TDN group (10 µg/L IL‑1β +100 µg/L TDN). 1 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after treating, immune fluorescence method was used to detect the cell location of NF‑κB p65. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was used to detect the activation of NF‑κB p65. Western blot method was used to detect the protein expressions of NF‑κB p65, IκBα, and p‑IκBα. Results: TDN could inhibit the activation and transfer of NF‑κB p65. As time went on, the expression of NF‑κB p65 in the cytoplasm was decreased while it was increased in the nucleus. The expression of p‑IκBα was increased, whereas the expression of IκBα was not changed. TDN could regulate these abnormal expressions. Conclusion: TDN may treat GA by regulating NF‑κB signal pathway.