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Updated: Jan 21, 2026
An Adoptive Transfer Model of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice
Published on: June 6, 2025
MiR-21 relieves rheumatoid arthritis in rats via targeting Wnt signaling pathway
1Department of Rheumatology, 970 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Weihai, China. mych968@163.com.
Objective:
To investigate the influence of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-21 on rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through the Wnt signaling pathway.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 30 rats were divided into three groups: control group (healthy rats, n=10), model group (rat model of RA, n=10), and MiR group (rat model of RA injected with miR-21 lentivirus, n=10). The paw volume, arthritis indexes, and protein expression level in each group were analyzed by means of paw volume and arthritis index measurement, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, and fluorescent Western blotting.
Results:
The expression levels of inflammatory factors declined in MiR group compared with those in model group, while they were higher in model group than those in control group and MiR group (p<0.05). At 15 d after transfection with lentivirus, the paw volume in MiR group was smaller than that in model group, which was decreased markedly with the extended time of transfection (p<0.05). On the 30th d, MiR group had a remarkably smaller paw volume than model group. In comparison with that in control group, the paw volume in model group was increased notably from the 7th d and displayed a significant difference in the 30th d (p<0.05). The arthritis indexes in MiR group were lower than those in model group; however, there were no apparent inflammations at the joints at 15 d after drug administration. Moreover, the longer the time of drug administration was, the less apparent the inflammations at the joints will be. The inflammations at the joints were ameliorated evidently on the 30th d in MiR group (p<0.05). Compared with those in control group, the inflammations in model group were increased significantly from the 7th d, with significant differences in the 30th d (p<0.05). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, and Wnt in MiR group were higher than those in control group, but lower than those in model group (p<0.05), while they were higher in model group than those in control group (p<0.05). The expression level of Wnt protein was decreased in MiR group compared with that in model group (p<0.05), and model group had a prominently elevated expression level of Wnt protein in comparison with control group (p<0.05).
Conclusions:
MiR-21 overexpression can repress the expressions of IL-6 and IL-8 and relieve the symptoms of RA by down-regulating the Wnt signal.
Insights
MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) overexpression in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) reduced inflammation and joint swelling by down-regulating the Wnt signaling pathway, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for RA.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating gene expression and are implicated in autoimmune diseases.
- The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in inflammation and immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the therapeutic effect of micro ribonucleic acid (miR)-21 on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a rat model.
- To elucidate the role of miR-21 in regulating the Wnt signaling pathway in RA pathogenesis.
Main Methods:
- A rat model of RA was established and divided into control, model, and miR-21-treated groups.
- Paw volume, arthritis index, and inflammatory factor levels (IL-6, IL-8) were measured.
- Messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels of Wnt signaling components were analyzed using RT-PCR and Western blotting.
Main Results:
- miR-21 treatment significantly reduced paw swelling and arthritis scores in RA rats compared to the model group.
- Inflammatory factor levels (IL-6, IL-8) were decreased in the miR-21-treated group.
- Overexpression of miR-21 led to decreased Wnt signaling pathway activation, evidenced by reduced Wnt mRNA and protein levels.
Conclusions:
- miR-21 overexpression demonstrates a therapeutic potential for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Down-regulation of the Wnt signaling pathway by miR-21 contributes to the amelioration of RA symptoms.
- miR-21 may serve as a novel therapeutic target for RA treatment.
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