Investigating the Effect and Mechanism of Anthocyanin Extract from Lycium Ruthenicum Murr. on Gouty Arthritis Based on the NLRP3 Inflammasome and TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Author：TANG Chaoqun1, JIANG Hongjiang1,2

Unit：1.The First Clinical Medical College, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei Anhui 230031, China; 2.Shandong Wendeng Orthopaedic Hospital, Weihai Shandong 264200, China

Quote：引用：唐超群，姜红江.基于NLRP3炎症小体及TLR4/NF-κB信号通路探讨黑果枸杞花青素对痛风性关节炎的作用及机制[J].中医药导报,2026,32(2):53-58.

DOI：10.13862/j.cn43-1446/r.20251127.001

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Abstract：

Objective: To investigate the effect of anthocyanin extract from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (AEL) on inflammatory levels and its potential mechanism in rats with gouty arthritis (GA). Methods: Totally 60 specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and randomly divided into six groups (n=10), including blank control group, model group, colchicine group (0.3 mg/kg), AEL low-dose group (59.5 mg/kg), AEL medium-dose group (119.0 mg/kg), and AEL high-dose group (238.0 mg/kg). The blank control and model groups were administered 3 mL of normal saline by gavage daily, while the other groups received their respective drug solutions at the same volume for 14 consecutive days. After the pretreatment period, except for the blank control group which received an intra-articular injection of normal saline, an acute GA model was induced in the other groups by intra-articular injection of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals. Ankle circumference was measured with a vernier caliper at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after modeling. Subsequently, blood was collected from the abdominal aorta to measure serum uric acid (UA) levels. The serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed on ankle joints to observe synovial histopathological changes. The protein expression levels of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (Caspase-1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in the synovium were detected by Western blotting. Results: Compared with the model group, the AEL high-dose group showed significantly reduced ankle circumference at 12, 24, and 48 hours (P<0.05). Serum UA levels in the AEL high-dose group were also lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, synovial tissue in the model group exhibited typical inflammatory changes under light microscopy, including synovial hyperplasia and extensive neutrophil infiltration. In the AEL-treated groups, the number of inflammatory cells decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with the model group, the AEL high-dose group showed significantly lower serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the AEL high-dose group showed significantly lower protein expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, ASC, TLR4, and NF-κB in the synovial tissue (P<0.05). Conclusion: Anthocyanin extract from Lycium ruthenicum Murr. can reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in rats with GA, and its mechanism may be associated with the regulation of the NLRP3 and the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Key words：gouty arthritis; anthocyanin extract from Lycium ruthenicum Murr.; inflammatory response; NLRP3 inflammasome; rats

摘要：目的：探讨黑果枸杞花青素（AEL）对痛风性关节炎（GA）大鼠炎症水平的影响及其可能的作用机制。方法：选取60只SPF级雄性SD大鼠作为研究对象，随机分为6组（n=10）：空白组、模型组、秋水仙碱组（0.3 mg/kg）、AEL低剂量组（59.5 mg/kg）、AEL中剂量组（119.0 mg/kg）及AEL高剂量组（238.0 mg/kg）。空白组和模型组使用生理盐水3 mL灌胃，其他各组均采用相应的药液3 mL灌胃，连续灌胃14 d后，除空白组关节腔注射生理盐水外，其余各组均采用尿酸钠（MSU）诱导建立急性痛风性关节炎模型。于造模成功后6、12、24、48 h采用游标卡尺测量踝部周径变化。测定结束后经腹主动脉采血检测尿酸（UA）水平，酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定IL-1β、IL-6、TNF-α水平；取大鼠踝关节苏木精-伊红（HE）染色观察滑膜组织病理改变；Western blotting检测滑膜NLRP3、ASC、Caspase-1、TLR4和NF-κB蛋白表达。结果：与模型组比较，AEL高剂量组大鼠在12、24、48 h踝部周径值显著降低（P<0.05）；与模型组比较，AEL高剂量组大鼠UA水平降低（P<0.05）；与空白组比较，模型组大鼠光镜下滑膜组织细胞呈现典型炎性改变，包括滑膜增生及大量中性粒细胞浸润；AEL干预组随剂量增加，炎症细胞数减少。与模型组比较，AEL高剂量组大鼠血清IL-6、IL-1β、TNF-α水平均降低（P<0.05）。与模型组比较，AEL高剂量组大鼠滑膜组织中NLRP3、Caspase-1、ASC和TLR4、NF-κB蛋白表达均降低（P<0.05）。结论：AEL可降低痛风性关节炎大鼠炎症因子水平，其机制可能与调控NLRP3、TLR4/NF-κB信号通路有关。

关键词：痛风性关节炎；黑果枸杞花青素；炎症反应；NLRP3炎症小体；大鼠

Release time：2026-03-05

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