• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.63-78
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was carried out to know the effects of Gwan-Jul-Bang-7 (hereafter referred to GJB-7) on the inhibition of arthritis induced by collagen on the mouse. Methods: To assess the effects of GJB-7 on mouse with arthritis induced by collagen II, we conducted several experiments such as analysis of cytotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, arthritis index, total cell number of draining lymph nodes and paw joints, value of immunocyte in PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell), DLN (draining lymph node) and paw joint, measurement of cytokine and anti-collagen II, observation of the histological changes of joint. Results: 1. Cytotoxicity against HFC (human fibroblast cells) was not observed in any concentration and hepatotoxicity was not observed in the GJB-7 treated group. 2. The incidence of arthritis significantly decreased. 3. Total cell number of draining lymph nodes significantly increased and total cell number of paw joints significantly decreased. 4. The percentage of $CD8^+$ cells in PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cell) significantly increased. The percentage of $CD3^+/CD69^+$, and $CD3^+/CD49b^+$ cells in PBMC significantly decreased. 5. The percentage of $CD19^+,\;CD3^+$, and $CD4^+/CD25^+$ cells in DLN (draining lymph nodes) significantly increased. The percentage of $B220^+/CD23^+$ cells in DLN significantly decreased. 6. The percentage of $CD3^+,\;CD4^+$, and $CD11b^+/Gr-1^+$ cells in paw joints significantly decreased. 7. The production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, and MCP-1 significantly decreased. 8. Anti-collagen II in serum significantly decreased. 9. With the hematoxylin and eosin stain, inflammation of joint decreased. Under Masson's trichrome stain, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation and the expression of collagen fibers decreased. Conclusions: Comparison of the results for this study showed that GJB-7 had immunomodulatory effects. So we expect that GJB-7 could be used as an effective drug for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another auto-immune diseases.