Abstract
MicroRNAs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their syntheses are modulated by glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta). Therefore, we hypothesised that the GSK-3 beta inhibitor, TDZD-8 can protect against collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) via downregulating miR155 and miR-24 expression. Rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n = 6) as follows: Control, Control + TDZD-8 (1 mg/kg), CIA, and CIA + TDZD-8. Rats were sacrificed after 6 weeks. We observed in the model group (CIA) significant (p<.05) increase in arthritis score and serum levels of RA biomarkers, which were significantly (p < .05) inhibited by TDZD-8. TDZD-8 also significantly (p<.05) inhibited CIA-induced synovial tissue levels of miR155, miR-24, and inflammation. In addition, a significant (p<.05) modulation of biomarkers of survival (Bcl-2) and apoptosis (cleaved caspase-3) by TDZD-8 was observed. Thus, TDZD-8 protects against CIA in rats for a period of 6 weeks, which is associated with the inhibition of miR155/24 and inflammation, and apoptosis augmentation.