Abstract: In the study,the effects of oleanolic acid(OA)on tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNF-α)-induced inflammatory cytokines production and the related mechanism in synovial cells were investigated.After culture of human fibroblast like synoviocytes(FLS),RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of IL-6 and IL-1β,and western blot method was used to detect the expression of p38 MAPK and NF-κB.ELISA was used to detect the levels of IL-6 and IL-1β in cell supernatant.Compared to control group,TNF-α significantly induced the production of IL-6 and IL-1β in FLS,increased the protein expression of P-p38MAPK and NF-κB(P< 0.05),and a p38MAPK antagonist SB203580 can inhibit TNF-α-induced the protein expression of NF-κB.OA concentration dependently inhibited TNF-α-induced protein expression of P-p38 MAPK and NF-κB in FLS cells.OA,a p38MAPK antagonist SB203580 or a NF-κB antagonist BAY 11-7082 can inhibit TNF-α-induced the production of IL-6 and IL-1β in FLS(P< 0.05).Collectively,these findings suggested that OA can inhibit TNF-α-induced the production of IL-6 and IL-1β,which may be through inhibiting p38MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

Key words: oleanolic acid, synoviocytes, inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha, p38MAPK, NF-&kappa, B