Pterostilbene Coupled with Physical Exercise Effectively Mitigates Collagen-Induced Articular Synovial by Correcting the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signal Pathway

Studies have revealed that a novel anti-inflammatory mediator-maresin-1 (MaR1)-can reduce the level of inflammatory factors. There is evidence that physical exercise (PE) promotes the biosynthesis of MaR1, leading to the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previously, we have proven that resveratrol can mitigate the formation of RA. Pterostilbene (Pte) is an analogue of resveratrol, but it is around four times more bioavailable. Hence, we hypothesize that Pte could be more effective in preventing RA, in particular, when accompanied by moderate PE. Based on this hypothesis, we explored the preventive effect of Pte combined with PE on a bovine type II collagen (BIIC)-stimulated rat RA model and its underlying molecular mechanism. Compared with the BIIC-stimulated group, the serum content of MaR1 with continuous intervention of Pte plus PE for 8 weeks was significantly increased to 46.3 pg/mL from 7.2 pg/mL in BIIC-treated alone. Besides, the variation in the relative expression levels of p-NF-kappa B and p-Akt was reversed with the administration of Pte plus PE. More importantly, the in vitro results confirmed that the treatment of Pte plus MaR1 inhibited proliferation and apoptosis and promoted the autophagy of the interleukin (IL)-1 beta-stimulated primary rat synovial cells through the PI3K/Akt/NF-kappa B signal pathway. Collectively, the oral administration of Pte plus moderate PE helped to ameliorate the pathological process of RA by correcting the PI3K/Akt/NF-kappa B signal pathway.

Automated summary

The study showed that Pterostilbene combined with physical exercise has a significant preventive effect on rheumatoid arthritis, increasing the MaR1 content, reversing the abnormal expression of inflammatory signal pathways, and inhibiting the proliferation and apoptosis of synovial cells through promoting cell autophagy.