A Traditional Clinic Chinese Medicine Prescription Qu-Zhuo-Tong-Bi (<i>QZTB</i>) Alleviates Gouty Arthritis in Model Rats

Abstract

Qu-Zhuo-Tong-Bi (<i>QZTB</i>) is an empirical traditional Chinese medicine prescription for treating acute gouty arthritis clinically without serious adverse effects in mainland China. However, the biochemical mechanism underlying the therapeutic action produced by <i>QZTB</i> treatment against acute gouty arthritis and the effect on recurrent attack remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of <i>QZTB</i> on acute gouty arthritis and the recurrent attack in rats, as well as the underlying mechanisms. The gouty arthritis model was established by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal suspension (2 mg/50 <i>μ</i>L) into the right ankle joint of Sprague Dawley (SD) male rats. <i>QZTB</i> (500 mg/kg) and the positive control drug meloxicam were administrated by gavages twice a day for 7 days before, or 3 days after, first MSU injection in different experiments, respectively. The analgesic effects were evaluated by pain-like behaviors and hind paw mechanical withdrawal threshold testing. The anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by ankle swelling measurement, histologic examination, NLRP3 inflammasome, and inflammatory cytokine expression. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR were used to detect the protein and mRNA expressions of NLRP3. IL-1<i>β</i> and TNF-<i>α</i> level in the blood serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). <i>QZTB</i> can suppress ankle swelling and synovial inflammation in the MSU-induced gouty arthritis rat model. <i>QZTB</i> alleviated the acute attack and prevented the recurrent attack of gouty arthritis. In addition, <i>QZTB</i> treatment significantly decreased both mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, as well as the production of IL-1 and TNF-<i>α</i> in the ankle joint of model rats. Taken together, these results suggest that <i>QZTB</i> may be a promising herbal formula for the prevention and treatment of gouty arthritis in humans.