Coenzyme Q10 suppresses Th17 cells and osteoclast differentiation and ameliorates experimental autoimmune arthritis mice

Effects of coenzyme Q10 on orthodontic tooth movement and alveolar bone remodeling in rats

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on alveolar bone remodeling and orthodontic tooth movement (OTM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An orthodontic appliance was placed in 42 female Sprague‒Dawley rats were divided into two groups: the orthodontic force (OF) group (n = 21) and the OF + CoQ10 (CoQ10) treatment group (n = 21). Each group was divided into 3 subgroups, and the rats were sacrificed on days 3, 7 and 14. The rats in CoQ10 and OF groups were administered 100 mg/kg b.w./day CoQ10 (in 1 mL/b.w. soybean oil) and 1 mL b.w./day soybean oil, respectively, by orogastric gavage. The OTM was measured at the end of the experiment. The osteoclast, osteoblast and capillary numbers; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), receptor activator nuclear kappa B ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegrin (OPG) levels in tissue; and total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status (TOS) in blood were determined.

RESULTS

Compared with the OF group, the CoQ10 treatment group exhibited decreased orthodontic tooth movement and osteoclast and capillary numbers. Indeed, the levels of VEGF and RANKL decreased, while the levels of OPG increased except on day 7. Additionally, the CoQ10 treatment group exhibited lower TOS and higher TAS on days 7 and 14 (p < 0.05). Histological findings showed that the morphology of osteoblasts changed in the CoQ10 group; however, there was no significant difference in the number of osteoblasts between the groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Due to its effect on oxidative stress and inflammation, CoQ10 regulates bone remodeling by inhibiting osteoclast differentiation, promoting osteoblast differentiation and reducing the amount of OTM.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Considering that OTM may be slowed with the use of CoQ10, topics such as orthodontic treatment duration, orthodontic force activation and appointment frequency should be considered in treatment planning. It is predicted that the use of CoQ10 will support the effectiveness of treatment in clinical applications such as preventing relapse in orthodontic treatment by regulating bone modulation and anchorage methods that suppress/optimize unwanted tooth movement.

Coenzyme Q10 and Autoimmune Disorders: An Overview

Some 90 autoimmune disorders have been described in medical literature, affecting most of the tissues within the body. Autoimmune disorders may be difficult to treat, and there is a need to develop novel therapeutic strategies for these disorders. Autoimmune disorders are characterised by mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation; there is therefore a rationale for a role for coenzyme Q10 in the management of these disorders, on the basis of its key role in normal mitochondrial function, as an antioxidant, and as an anti-inflammatory agent. In this article, we have therefore reviewed the potential role of CoQ10, in terms of both deficiency and/or supplementation, in a range of autoimmune disorders.

Coenzyme Q10 supplementation in rheumatic diseases: A systematic review

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substance used to treat some rheumatic diseases. Our objective was to review the use of CoQ10 in rheumatic diseases. PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched for articles on CoQ10 and rheumatic diseases between 1966 and April 2023. Twenty articles were found, including 483 patients. The investigated conditions were Fibromyalgia (FM) with 15 studies, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) with 3 studies, and Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) with 2 studies. After CoQ10 supplementation, RA patients observed improvements in disease activity index, inflammatory biomarkers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), cytokine levels, and a decrease in malondialdehyde. In APS, CoQ10 improved endothelial function and decreased prothrombotic and proinflammatory mediators. Regarding FM, in most of the studies, the patients observed improvements in pain, fatigue, sleep, tender points count, mood disorders, and scores on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The drug was well tolerated, with reports of minor side effects in two studies. CoQ10 supplementation seems to be efficacious as a complementary treatment for RA and FM. Upcoming studies with larger samples and including other rheumatic diseases are welcome.

Fighting age-related orthopedic diseases: focusing on ferroptosis

Ferroptosis, a unique type of cell death, is characterized by iron-dependent accumulation and lipid peroxidation. It is closely related to multiple biological processes, including iron metabolism, polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism, and the biosynthesis of compounds with antioxidant activities, including glutathione. In the past 10 years, increasing evidence has indicated a potentially strong relationship between ferroptosis and the onset and progression of age-related orthopedic diseases, such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. Therefore, in-depth knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis in age-related orthopedic diseases may help improve disease treatment and prevention. This review provides an overview of recent research on ferroptosis and its influences on bone and cartilage homeostasis. It begins with a brief overview of systemic iron metabolism and ferroptosis, particularly the potential mechanisms of ferroptosis. It presents a discussion on the role of ferroptosis in age-related orthopedic diseases, including promotion of bone loss and cartilage degradation and the inhibition of osteogenesis. Finally, it focuses on the future of targeting ferroptosis to treat age-related orthopedic diseases with the intention of inspiring further clinical research and the development of therapeutic strategies.

CoQ10 alleviates hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury via inhibiting NLRP3 activity and promoting Tregs infiltration

Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) has been concerned as a main complication of liver surgery and transplantation. Previous studies show that reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated inflammation response and contribute to the liver damage during IRI. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has shown many beneficial effects on abrogating ROS production and ameliorating liver injury. This study found lower CoQ10 level in the process of liver IRI in a mouse model of hepatic IRI. Meanwhile, our results showed that CoQ10 administration significantly attenuate hepatic IRI proved by HE staining, serum ALT/AST. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is activated by ROS which triggers the activation of inflammatory caspases. In this study, NLRP3 was significantly suppressed by CoQ10 while Foxp3 exhibited increased expression in liver. Furthermore, Kupffer cells (KCs) pretreated with CoQ10 under the condition of hypoxia and reoxygenation contributed to improved CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells (Tregs) ratio in co-culture system. Furthermore, NLRP3 inflammasome activator treatment in vivo resulted in higher expression of caspase-1 and NLRP3 and reduction of Tregs in liver, which reversed the protection of CoQ10 in the liver injury. Taken together, our study discovered that CoQ10 can suppress NLRP3 activity in KCs and improves Foxp3⁺ Tregs differentiation depending on M2 macrophage polarization of KCs to ameliorate hepatic IRI.

The therapeutic effects of coenzyme Q10 on surgically induced endometriosis in Sprague Dawley rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of endometriosis rat models. Twenty seven Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups; Control Group (n = 7; Endometriosis group), Reference Group (n = 6; Endometriosis + Buserelin acetate, 20 mg/kg), CoQ10 Group-I (n = 7; Endometriosis + CoQ10, 50 mg/kg) and CoQ10 Group-II (n = 7; Endometriosis + CoQ10, 100 mg/kg). At the end of the experiment, all the rats were sacrificed, and the volume and histoarchitecture of endometrial implants were evaluated. The mast cells were determined by Toluidine blue and collagen fiber density was analysed by Masson's Trichrome staining. Tumour necrosis factor and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were analysed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in peritoneal fluid and VEGF and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Terminal deoxynucleotidil transferase-mediated dUTP Nick end labelling (TUNEL) was also used for the detection of apoptotic cells. The CoQ10 treatment significantly decreased the volume of endometriotic implants, VEGF, and MMP-9 immunoreactivity and increased TUNEL-positive cells. The findings of the study suggest that CoQ10 can be used in endometriosis treatment by suppressing the endometriotic implants.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Endometriosis is a gynaecological disorder and previous studies have shown that different treatments with antioxidants cause significant regression in the endometriotic implants.What the results of this study add? In this study, CoQ10 reduced intra-abdominal adhesion scores and volume of the endometriotic implants. In addition, CoQ10 treatment affected mast cell, TNF-α, VEGF, and MMP-9.What of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? CoQ10 treatments may be possible to apply, it can contribute to science in terms of a new therapeutic treatment for endometriosis. Further studies are required to evaluate the Coenzyme Q10's effects on pain and subfertility in endometriosis.

Coenzyme Q10 encapsulated in micelles ameliorates osteoarthritis by inhibiting inflammatory cell death

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease and is characterized by breakdown of joint cartilage. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) exerts diverse biological effects on bone and cartilage; observational studies have suggested that CoQ10 may slow OA progression and inflammation. However, any effect of CoQ10 on OA remains unclear. Here, we investigated the therapeutic utility of CoQ10-micelles.

Methods

Seven-week-old male Wistar rats were injected with monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) to induce OA. CoQ10-micelles were administered orally to MIA-induced OA rats; celecoxib served as the positive control. Pain, tissue destruction, and inflammation were measured. The expression levels of catabolic and inflammatory cell death markers were assayed in CoQ10-micelle-treated chondrocytes.

Results

Oral supplementation with CoQ10-micelles attenuated OA symptoms remarkably, including pain, tissue destruction, and inflammation. The expression levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and MMP-13, and of the inflammatory cell death markers RIP1, RIP3, and pMLKL in synovial tissues were significantly reduced by CoQ10-micelle supplementation, suggesting that CoQ10-micelles might attenuate the synovitis of OA. CoQ10-micelle addition to cultured OA chondrocytes reduced the expression levels of catabolic and inflammatory cell death markers.

Conclusions

CoQ10-micelles might usefully treat OA.

Biomaterial-based immunotherapeutic strategies for rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an extremely painful autoimmune disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation leading to the erosion of adjacent cartilage and bone. Rheumatoid arthritis pathology is primarily driven by inappropriate infiltration and activation of immune cells within the synovium of the joint. There is no cure for RA. As such, manifestation of symptoms entails lifelong management via various therapies that aim to generally dampen the immune system or impede the function of immune mediators. However, these treatment strategies lead to adverse effects such as toxicity, general immunosuppression, and increased risk of infection. In pursuit of safer and more efficacious therapies, many emerging biomaterial-based strategies are being developed to improve payload delivery, specific targeting, and dose efficacy, and to mitigate adverse reactions and toxicity. In this review, we highlight biomaterial-based approaches that are currently under investigation to circumvent the limitations of conventional RA treatments.

Coenzyme Q10 and Immune Function: An Overview

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has a number of important roles in the cell that are required for optimal functioning of the immune system. These include its essential role as an electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, enabling the process of oxidative phosphorylation to occur with the concomitant production of ATP, together with its role as a potential lipid-soluble antioxidant, protecting the cell against free radical-induced oxidation. Furthermore, CoQ10 has also been reported to have an anti-inflammatory role via its ability to repress inflammatory gene expression. Recently, CoQ10 has also been reported to play an important function within the lysosome, an organelle central to the immune response. In view of the differing roles CoQ10 plays in the immune system, together with the reported ability of CoQ10 supplementation to improve the functioning of this system, the aim of this article is to review the current literature available on both the role of CoQ10 in human immune function and the effect of CoQ10 supplementation on this system.

Therapeutic Potential and Immunomodulatory Role of Coenzyme Q10 and Its Analogues in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) is a mitochondrial electron carrier and a powerful lipophilic antioxidant located in membranes and plasma lipoproteins. CoQ₁₀ is endogenously synthesized and obtained from the diet, which has raised interest in its therapeutic potential against pathologies related to mitochondrial dysfunction and enhanced oxidative stress. Novel formulations of solubilized CoQ₁₀ and the stabilization of reduced CoQ₁₀ (ubiquinol) have improved its bioavailability and efficacy. Synthetic analogues with increased solubility, such as idebenone, or accumulated selectively in mitochondria, such as MitoQ, have also demonstrated promising properties. CoQ₁₀ has shown beneficial effects in autoimmune diseases. Leukocytes from antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients exhibit an oxidative perturbation closely related to the prothrombotic status. In vivo ubiquinol supplementation in APS modulated the overexpression of inflammatory and thrombotic risk-markers. Mitochondrial abnormalities also contribute to immune dysregulation and organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Idebenone and MitoQ improved clinical and immunological features of lupus-like disease in mice. Clinical trials and experimental models have further demonstrated a therapeutic role for CoQ₁₀ in Rheumatoid Arthritis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. This review summarizes the effects of CoQ₁₀ and its analogs in modulating processes involved in autoimmune disorders, highlighting the potential of these therapeutic approaches for patients with immune-mediated diseases.

Prospective study of plasma levels of coenzyme Q10 and lung cancer risk in a low-income population in the Southeastern United States

Background

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a ubiquitous molecule in living organisms serving as a cofactor in energy production. Epidemiological studies have reported low CoQ10 levels being associated with an increased risk of various cancers. We conducted the first study to evaluate the association of CoQ10 concentrations with lung cancer risk.

Methods

A nested case‐control study including 201 lung cancer cases and 395 matched controls from the Southern Community Cohort Study was conducted. Plasma CoQ10 levels were measured using high‐performance liquid chromatography with photo‐diode array detection. Conditional logistic regression models were applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between plasma CoQ10 levels and lung cancer risk.

Results

Plasma CoQ10 concentration was inversely associated with the risk of lung cancer. After adjusting for age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status, the OR (95% CI) comparing the third to first tertile was 0.57 (0.36–0.91, P for trend = 0.02). Further adjustments for smoking, alcohol, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and body mass index attenuated the point estimate slightly (OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.34–1.08, P for trend = 0.11), comparing third to first tertiles. Stratified analyses identified a significant inverse association between plasma CoQ10 levels and lung cancer risk in current smokers, but not in former/never smokers. The association was more evident in cases who were diagnosed within 1 year of blood draw than in cases diagnosed after 1 year.

Conclusions

Low plasma CoQ10 was significantly associated with increased lung cancer risk, particularly among current smokers. The stronger association seen shortly following the blood draw suggests that CoQ10 may be related to disease progression.

Effect of antioxidants coenzyme Q10 and β-carotene on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against human malignant melanoma

Melanoma is a type of highly invasive skin cancer derived from melanocytes with poor prognosis. Vemurafenib (PLX4032) is a clinically approved targeted therapeutic for BRAF mutant melanoma that has a high therapeutic response rate and significantly prolongs the overall survival time of patients with melanoma. Antioxidants have been widely used as supplements for cancer prevention and for decreasing the side effects of cancer therapy. However, antioxidants can also protect cancer cells from oxidative stress and promote cancer growth and progression. The present study aimed to examine the effect of the antioxidants coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and β-carotene on melanoma cell growth and invasiveness and on the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib against both vemurafenib-sensitive (SK-MEL-28) and vemurafenib-resistant (A2058) human malignant melanoma cell lines. MTS assay and wound-healing assay demonstrated that CoQ10 alone significantly reduced the viability and migration of melanoma cells, respectively, and synergistically worked with vemurafenib to decrease the viability and migration of human melanoma cells. In contrast, MTS assay and flow cytometry revealed that β-carotene alone did not affect the viability and apoptosis induction of melanoma cells; however, it inhibited cell migration and invasiveness. Wound-healing and Transwell assay demonstrated that β-carotene alleviated the cytotoxicity of vemurafenib and mitigated the inhibitory effect of vemurafenib on cell migration and invasion. Both CoQ10 and β-carotene protected melanoma cells from undergoing apoptosis induced by vemurafenib. Immunoblotting demonstrated that β-carotene at physiological concentration worked synergistically with vemurafenib to suppress the Ras-Raf-Mek-Erk intracellular signaling pathway. The present study aimed to add to the evidence of the in vitro effects of CoQ10 and β-carotene on the antimelanoma effects of vemurafenib.

Liposome/gold hybrid nanoparticle encoded with CoQ10 (LGNP-CoQ10) suppressed rheumatoid arthritis via STAT3/Th17 targeting

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is a fat-soluble antioxidant. Although CoQ10 has not been approved as medication by the Food and Drug Administration, it is widely used in dietary supplements. Some studies have shown that CoQ10 has anti-inflammatory effects on various autoimmune disorders. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of liposome/gold hybrid nanoparticles encoded with CoQ10 (LGNP-CoQ10). Both CoQ10 and LGNP-CoQ10 were administered orally to mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) for 10 weeks. The inflammation pathology of joint tissues of CIA mice was then analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin and Safranin O staining, as well as immunohistochemistry analysis. We obtained immunofluorescence staining images of spleen tissues using confocal microscopy. We found that pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased in LGNP-CoQ10 injected mice. Th17 cell and phosphorylated STAT3-expressed cell populations were also decreased in LGNP-CoQ10 injected mice. When human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were treated with CoQ10 and LGNP-CoQ10, the IL-17 expression of PBMCs in the LGNP-CoQ10-treated group was significantly reduced. Together, these results suggest that LGNP-CoQ10 has therapeutic potential for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Metformin: A Potential Therapeutic Tool for Rheumatologists

Metformin is an oral antihyperglycemic drug widely used to treat type 2 diabetes, acting via indirect activation of 5′ Adenosine Monophosphate-activated Protein Kinase (AMPK). Actually, evidence has accumulated of an intriguing anti-inflammatory activity, mainly mediated by AMPK through a variety of mechanisms such as the inhibition of cytokine-stimulated Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) and the downregulation of the Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. Moreover, AMPK plays an important role in the modulation of T lymphocytes and other pivotal cells of the innate immune system. The current understanding of these AMPK effects provides a strong rationale for metformin repurposing in the management of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Several studies demonstrated metformin’s beneficial effects on both animal and human rheumatologic diseases, especially on rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, even though data are large and remarkable, they almost exclusively come from experimental investigations with only a few from clinical trials. The lack of support from prospective placebo-controlled trials does not allow metformin to enter the therapeutic repertoire of rheumatologists. However, a large proportion of rheumatologic patients can currently benefit from metformin, such as those with concomitant obesity and type 2 diabetes, two conditions strongly associated with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout, as well as those with diabetes secondary to steroid therapy.

Lactobacillus sakei suppresses collagen-induced arthritis and modulates the differentiation of T helper 17 cells and regulatory B cells

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Lactobacillus sakei in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in human immune cells.

METHODS

We evaluated whether L. sakei reduced the severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and modulated interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-10 levels, as well as whether it affected the differentiation of CD4⁺ T cells and regulatory B cells. We evaluated osteoclastogenesis after culturing bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells with L. sakei.

RESULTS

The differentiation of T helper 17 cells and the serum level of IL-17 were suppressed by L. sakei in both human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and mouse splenocytes. The serum level of IL-10 was significantly increased in the L. sakei-treated group, whereas the regulatory T cell population was unchanged. The population of regulatory B cells significantly increased the in L. sakei-treated group. Oral administration of L. sakei reduced the arthritis incidence and score in mice with CIA. Finally, osteoclastogenesis and the mRNA levels of osteoclast-related genes were suppressed in the L. sakei-treated group.

CONCLUSION

L. sakei exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in an animal model of RA, regulated Th17 and regulatory B cell differentiation, and suppressed osteoclastogenesis. Our findings suggest that L. sakei has therapeutic potential for RA.

RIPK1 inhibition attenuates experimental autoimmune arthritis via suppression of osteoclastogenesis

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic inflammatory disease characterized by upregulation of inflammatory cell death and osteoclastogenesis. Necrostatin (NST)-1s is a chemical inhibitor of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase (RIPK)1, which plays a role in necroptosis.

Methods

We investigated whether NST-1s decreases inflammatory cell death and inflammatory responses in a mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Results

NST-1s decreased the progression of CIA and the synovial expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover, NST-1s treatment decreased the expression of necroptosis mediators such as RIPK1, RIPK3, and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). In addition, NST-1s decreased osteoclastogenesis in vitro and in vivo. NST-1s downregulated T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cell expression, but promoted Th2 and regulatory T (Treg) cell expression in CIA mice.

Conclusions

These results suggest that NST-1s attenuates CIA progression via the inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and might be a potential therapeutic agent for RA therapy.

Nutritional and Pharmacological Effects on Oxidative Stress in Soft Tissue and Bone Remodeling

Oxidative damage is the causal link to a multitude of pathologies, such as diabetes, arthritis, neuropathy, heart disease, and asthma. These conditions affect hundreds of millions of people nationwide, and billions worldwide. Even in otherwise healthy individuals, oxidative stress is a natural byproduct of metabolism that is augmented in "healthy" activities such as athletics. In many disease states, the pharmacological agents used to treat these conditions can induce oxidative damage and vitamin depletion. It is underappreciated by many that many of the most common medications prescribed result in oxidative stress. Therefore, physicians need to carefully scrutinize which medications their patients are on before surgery and treatment and during the recovery stage to obtain optimal healing results. We provide a review of the current literature of how oxidative damage and inflammation are linked to bone damage, Charcot neuroarthropathy, delayed wound healing, diabetic complications, and delayed flap consolidation. Where available, antioxidant intervention literature is offered to offset these conditions.

Metformin ameliorates experimental-obesity-associated autoimmune arthritis by inducing FGF21 expression and brown adipocyte differentiation

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease involving excessive inflammation. Recently, RA associated with a metabolic disorder was revealed to be non-responsive to RA medications. Metformin has been reported to have a therapeutic effect on RA and obesity. The aim of this investigation was to study the therapeutic effect and the underlying mechanism of metformin's action in an experimental model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) associated with obesity. Metformin was administered daily for 13 weeks to mice with CIA that had been fed a high-fat diet. Metformin ameliorated the development of CIA in obese mice by reducing autoantibody expression and joint inflammation. Furthermore, metformin decreased the expression levels of pSTAT3 and pmTOR and had a small normalizing effect on the metabolic profile of obese CIA mice. In addition, metformin increased the production of pAMPK and FGF21. Metformin also induced the differentiation of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which led to a reciprocal balance between T helper (Th) 17 and regulatory T (Treg) cells in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that metformin can dampen the development of CIA in obese mice and reduce metabolic dysfunction by inducing BAT differentiation. Thus, metformin could be a therapeutic candidate for non-responsive RA.

Coenzyme Q10 Inhibits Th17 and STAT3 Signaling Pathways to Ameliorate Colitis in Mice

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a powerful antioxidant substance synthesized in the body. The current study aimed to determine whether CoQ10 suppresses inflammation and inhibits p-STAT3 expression in an experimental colitis mouse model. The mice were orally fed with CoQ10 once a day for 13 days. Histological analysis of the colons was performed by immunohistochemistry. Expression of IL-17, FOXP3, p53, AMPK, and mTOR and activation of p-STAT3 and p-STAT5 in lymph node and spleen tissues were detected by confocal microscopy of stained tissue sections. The relative mRNA expression was measured with real-time PCR, and protein levels were examined by western blot. CoQ10 reduced the disease activity index score and the colon histological score. It also reduced inflammatory mediators in the colon and increased the colon length. The expression of IL-17 and p-STAT3 was decreased with CoQ10 treatment. In contrast, CoQ10 treatment increased the expression of p-AMPK and FOXP3. Expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines was shown to increase in colitis mice treated with CoQ10. These results suggested that CoQ10 may reduce the severity of colitis and suppress inflammation through the inhibition of p-STAT3 and IL-17. These results support the use of CoQ10 as a potential targeted therapy for the treatment of colitis.

Ssu72 attenuates autoimmune arthritis via targeting of STAT3 signaling and Th17 activation

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) orchestrates the differentiation of several cell types, including interleukin-17 (IL-17)-releasing Th17 cells. Dysregulation of Th17 cells results in chronic inflammatory responses. Ssu72 is a C-terminal domain phosphatase required for transcriptional regulation. However, the mechanism by which Ssu72 affects STAT3 activation and Th17 cell differentiation is unclear. Here, we found that Ssu72 overexpression suppresses STAT3 activation and Th17 cell responses in vitro. A systemic infusion of Ssu72 attenuates experimental autoimmune arthritis by reducing STAT3 activity and the differentiation of Th17 cells. It also reduces joint destruction, serum immunoglobulin concentrations and osteoclastogenesis but increases the number of marginal zone B cells and B10 cells. These effects are associated with reduced p-STAT3 levels and the suppression of Th17 cell formation in vivo. Based on these data, Ssu72 is related to STAT3 activation and the inflammatory response; and Ssu72 overexpression in T-cell-mediated immunity has potential utility for the treatment of autoimmune arthritis.

Coenzyme Q10 Suppresses TNF-α-Induced Inflammatory Reaction In Vitro and Attenuates Severity of Dermatitis in Mice

Anti-oxidant coenzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) is commonly used in clinic. Recently, Co-Q10 was reported to antagonize TNF-α-induced inflammation and play a protective role in various inflammatory conditions. However, its role in dermatitis is unknown. Herein, RAW264.7 macrophage cell line was cultured with stimulation of TNF-α, and administration of Co-Q10 alleviated TNF-α-mediated inflammatory reaction in vitro. Furthermore, oxazolone-induced dermatitis mice model was established, and treatment of Co-Q10 markedly attenuated dermatitis phenotype in this mice model. Moreover, the protective role of Co-Q10 in vitro and in dermatitis was probably due to its repression on NF-κB signaling. Collectively, Co-Q10 may represent a potential molecular target for prevention and treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.

STX0119 ameliorates arthritis in SKG mice via inhibiting T helper 17

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with chronic and excessive inflammation. Upregulation of interleukin (IL)-17 is involved in the pathogenesis of RA. STX0119 is a specific inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) as a potential target for the treatment of RA. STAT3 is a member of DNA-binding molecules that regulates the expression of proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of RA. The objective of this study was to determine whether STX0119 could inhibit STAT3 and IL-17. We demonstrated that STX0119 decreased T helper (Th) 17 differentiation and IL-17 expression in vitro. STX0119 also improved the severity of zymosan induced arthritis and reduced joint inflammation. STX0119 reduced the proliferation of Th17 and phosphorylated STAT3 expression while increasing Treg differentiation and phosphorylated STAT5 expression. Moreover, STX0119 decreased the expression of IL-6 and -17 but not IL-10. These findings suggest that STX0119 can be used to treat autoimmune RA through inhibiting the activation of STAT3.

Combination therapy with metformin and coenzyme Q10 in murine experimental autoimmune arthritis

Metformin (Met) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) are reported to have therapeutic functions in several inflammatory diseases. These drugs have shown anti-inflammatory effects and have been utilized in mouse models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there is no evidence of the additive effect of Met and CoQ10 in RA. Although Met and CoQ10 may be involved in the improvement of mitochondrial dysfunction, limited information is available regarding whether this effect can improve mitochondrial dysfunction in RA in particular. In this study, we sought to determine whether Met and CoQ10 attenuate the severity of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and show an additive effect in a mouse model. The combination of Met and CoQ10 improved CIA, reducing joint inflammation, Th17 differentiation and IgG production. In contrast, the combination of Met and CoQ10 induced Treg differentiation. Osteoclastogenesis was reduced by the combination of Met and CoQ10. The protein expression of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in mice splenocytes exposed to lipopolysaccharide decreased after drug combination therapy. We also found that the expression of JC-1 and COX IV were enhanced by treatment with the combination of Met and CoQ10. Moreover, the combination of Met and CoQ10 promoted mitochondrial O2 consumption. These findings suggest that the combination of Met and CoQ10 reduced CIA severity, improving mitochondrial dysfunction compared to Met or CoQ10 alone. These results present a novel, significant preventive targets in RA and may enhance our understanding of its pathogenesis.