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Strontium ranelate analgesia in arthritis models is associated to decreased cytokine release and opioid-dependent mechanisms

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Abstract

Objective

We investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of strontium ranelate (SR) in arthritis models.

Materials and methods

Rats received 1 mg zymosan (Zy) or saline intra-articularly. Other groups were subjected to anterior cruciate ligament transection in the right knee, as an osteoarthritis (OA) model, or a sham procedure. Joint pain was assessed using the articular incapacitation and paw-pressure tests. Cell influx and cytokines were measured in joint exudates.

Treatment

Groups received either SR (30–300 mg/kg per os) or saline.

Results

SR dose-dependently and significantly inhibited joint pain in both Zy and OA models, while not altering cell influx. Naloxone administration significantly reversed SR analgesia. SR significantly reduced levels of Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in Zy arthritis, whereas those of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC)-1 were not altered.

Conclusions

SR provides analgesia in arthritis that is associated to inhibition of the release of inflammatory cytokines into inflamed joints. This effect is abrogated by administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Grants 302218/2014-9 and 459334/2014-0 from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento e Tecnológico—Brasil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, R. Dr. Jose Lourenco, 1930, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60115-281, Brazil

    Rodolfo de Melo Nunes, Morgana Ramos Martins, Francisco Saraiva da Silva Junior, Ana Caroline Rocha de Melo Leite, Aryana Lushese Lima Feitosa Marinho, Ana Carolina Matias Dinelly Pinto & Francisco Airton Castro Rocha

  2. Department of Morphology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

    Virgínia Claudia Carneiro Girão

  3. Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fernando de Queiroz Cunha

Authors
  1. Rodolfo de Melo Nunes
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  2. Morgana Ramos Martins
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  3. Francisco Saraiva da Silva Junior
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  4. Ana Caroline Rocha de Melo Leite
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  5. Virgínia Claudia Carneiro Girão
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  6. Fernando de Queiroz Cunha
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  7. Aryana Lushese Lima Feitosa Marinho
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  8. Ana Carolina Matias Dinelly Pinto
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  9. Francisco Airton Castro Rocha
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francisco Airton Castro Rocha.

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Responsible Editor: Jason J. McDougall.

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de Melo Nunes, R., Martins, M.R., da Silva Junior, F.S. et al. Strontium ranelate analgesia in arthritis models is associated to decreased cytokine release and opioid-dependent mechanisms. Inflamm. Res. 64, 781–787 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-015-0860-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-015-0860-7

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