[Pubmed] Grilled nux vomica alleviates myasthenia gravis by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway: a study in a mi

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Eur J Med Res. 2024 Oct 21;29(1):507. doi: 10.1186/s40001-024-02100-2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Grilled Nux Vomica (GNV) is a promising traditional Chinese medicine to treat myasthenia gravis (MG), but its effects and mechanisms need further exploration.

METHODS: Experimental autoimmune MG (EAMG) model was established by muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) induction on C57BL/6 J mice. Mice were treated with GNV and/or ruxolitinib (JAK2 inhibitor) or AG490 (STAT3 inhibitor) for 30 days via gavage after modeling and randomized into 7 groups: control, model, low-dose GNV, middle-dose GNV, high-dose GNV, GNV + ruxolitinib, GNV + AG490. Body weight, muscle strength, clinical score, MuSK level, neuromuscular junction integrity (agrin and acetylcholine receptor [AChR] levels), inflammatory factors (IL-2 and IL-6), and the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 pathway were measured and compared between groups.

RESULTS: GNV significantly improved body weight and muscle strength, as well as reduced clinical scores, MuSK levels, and inflammatory markers (IL-2 and IL-6) levels compared with untreated EAMG mice. GNV also protected the neuromuscular junction and increased agrin and AChR co-expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, GNV attenuated the levels of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, which are aberrantly upregulated in EAMG mice. After co-treatment with ruxolitinib or AG490, the effect of GNV on body weight, muscle strength, clinical score, MuSK level, neuromuscular junction integrity, levels of inflammatory factors, and JAK2/STAT3 pathway was further amplified in EAMG mice.

CONCLUSIONS: GNV improves MG by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, which might be an effective therapeutic strategy for MG.

PMID:39434147 | PMC:PMC11492534 | DOI:10.1186/s40001-024-02100-2


Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3943414 ... t9+e462414