Cyanidin prevents the hyperproliferative potential of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and disease progression via targeting IL-17A cytokine signalling in rheumatoid arthritis

The hyperplastic phenotype of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) plays an important role for synovitis, chronic inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interleukin 17A (IL-17A), a signature pro-inflammatory cytokine effectively influences the hyperplastic transformation of FLS cells and synovial pannus growth. IL-17A cytokine signalling participates in RA pathology by regulating an array of pro-inflammatory mediators and osteoclastogenesis. Cyanidin, a key flavonoid inhibits IL-17A/IL-17 Receptor A (IL-17RA) interaction and alleviates progression and disease severity of psoriasis and asthma. However, the therapeutic efficacy of cyanidin on IL-17A cytokine signalling in RA remains unknown. In the present study, cyanidin inhibited IL-17A induced migratory and proliferative capacity of FLS cells derived from adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) rats. Cyanidin treatment reduced IL-17A mediated reprogramming of AA-FLS cells to overexpress IL-17RA. In addition, significantly decreased expression of IL-17A dependent cyr61, IL-23, GM-CSF, and TLR3 were observed in AA-FLS cells in response to cyanidin. At the molecular level, cyanidin modulated IL-17/IL-17RA dependent JAK/STAT-3 signalling in AA-FLS cells. Importantly, cyanidin activated PIAS3 protein to suppress STAT-3 specific transcriptional activation in AA-FLS cells. Cyanidin treatment to AA rats attenuated clinical symptoms, synovial pannus growth, immune cell infiltration, and bone erosion. Cyanidin reduced serum level of IL-23 and GM-CSF and expression of Cyr 61 and TLR3 in the synovial tissue of AA rats. Notably, the level of p-STAT-3 protein was significantly decreased in the synovial tissue of AA rats treated with cyanidin. This study provides the first evidence that cyanidin can be used as IL-17/17RA signalling targeting therapeutic drug for the treatment of RA and this need to be investigated in RA patients.