Background Dioscorea nipponicaMakino is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gouty arthritis. Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: the normal group, model group, colchicine group (COL) and three total saponin groups (RDN) (high dose [160 mg/kg], middle dose [80 mg/kg] and low dose [40 mg/kg]). HE staining was used to detect the histopathologic changes of the synovial tissue of joint. Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the protein expressions of P-38, p-P38, JNK, p-JNK, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, MEK1/2, p-MEK1/2, MKK4, p-MKK4, ICAM1, VCAM1, and PPAR gamma in the synovial tissue of joint. Realtime PCR and WB methods were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of PPAR gamma and AdipoR2 in the synovial tissue of joint. The contents of CXCL1 and ADP in the blood serum were measured by Elisa method. Results Our study showed that RDN could improve the situation of the synovial tissue, reduce the protein expressions of MKK4, p-MEK1/2, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, ICAM1. They could also decrease the content of CXCL1 and increase the content of ADP in the blood serum. Conclusion RDN has good effect of anti-inflammation. This is in part realized by influencing MAPK signalling pathway. It provides a new visual angle to reveal the mechanism of RDN to treat GA.

In multiple tumor types, prediction of response to immune therapies relates to the presence, distribution and activation state of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Although such therapies are, to date, unsuccessful in gliomas, little is known on the immune contexture of TILs in these tumors. We assessed whether low and high-grade glioma (LGG and HGG, grade II and IV respectively) differ with respect to number, location and tumor reactivity of TILs; as well as expression of molecules involved in the trafficking and activation of T cells. Intra-tumora I CD8 T cells were quantified by flow cytometry (LGG: n = 12; HGG: n = 8) and immunofluorescence (LGG: n = 28; HGG: n = 28). Neoantigen load and expression of Cancer Germline Antigens (CGAs) were assessed using whole exome sequencing and RNA-seq. TIL-derived DNA was sequenced and the variable domain of the TCR beta chain was classified according to IMGT nomenclature. QPCR was used to determine expression ofT cell-related genes. CD8 T cell numbers were significantly lower in LGG and, in contrast to HGG, mainly remained in close vicinity to blood vessels. This was accompanied by lower expression of chemo-attractants CXCL9, CXCL10 and adhesion molecule ICAM1. We did not observe a difference in the number of expressed neoantigens or CGAs, nor in diversity of TCR-V beta gene usage. In summary, LGG have lower numbers of intra-tumoral CD8 T cells compared to HGG, potentially linked to decreased T cell trafficking. We have found no evidence for distinct tumor reactivity ofT cells in either tumor type. The near absence of TILs in LGG suggest that, at present, checkpoint inhibitors are unlikely to have clinical efficacy in this tumor type.