CT20126, a novel immunosuppressant, prevents collagen-induced arthritis through the down-regulation of inflammatory gene expression by inhibiting NF-κB activation

The colchicine-derived CT20126 compound has recently been shown to exert an immune regulatory effect and prolong the survival of allograft skins. In this study, we explored the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of CT20126 in vivo and in vitro as well as investigated its underlying action mechanism. CT20126 suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1beta as well as the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E₂ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated macrophages as well as LPS-administered mice. This drug also inhibited the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂, and the chemokines, RANTES, GROα, and ENA-78, in cytokine-stimulated human synoviocytes. CT20126 suppressed NF-κB activation and iNOS promoter activity, which correlated with its inhibitory effect on phosphorylation-dependent IκB kinase activation, IκB phosphorylation and degradation, and NF-κB nuclear translocation, in LPS-stimulated macrophages. This compound also inhibited LPS-induced NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) and Akt phosphorylation, which are upstream of NF-κB activation. Furthermore, CT20126 significantly decreased the incidence and severity of arthritis as well as inhibited the expression of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, iNOS, and cyclooxygenase-2 in the paws of collagen-induced arthritic mice. These findings indicate that CT20126 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect through NF-κB-responsive inflammatory gene expression by inhibiting the NIK- and Akt-dependent canonical NF-κB pathway and can be used as a therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis related to chronic inflammation.