Pristimerin (Synonyms: Celastrol methyl ester, NSC 99281)

Cell experiment:

HFLS-RA (5 × 103 cells/mL) or HUVECs (1 × 104 cells/well) are seeded in 96-well plates and cultured in normal growth medium for 24 h. The cells are then incubated with different Pristimerin concentrations (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 μM). The effects of Pristimerin on HUVECs viability are determined under VEGF-induced conditions. Cell viability is quantified by MTT assay. At 4 h before the end of the culture period, 30 μL of MTT solution (5.0 mg/mL) is added to each well. Cells without Pristimerin or VEGF served as a vehicle control[2].

Animal experiment:

Rat: Pristimerin is dissolved in DMSO (0.4%) and intraperitoneally injected daily into Male Sprague-Dawley rats in the experimental group (low-dose group, 0.40 mg/kg of body weight; high-dose group, 0.80 mg/kg of body weight) from day 11 to day 24 of immunization. The model group received vehicle (DMSO, 0.4%), and the normal control group received normal saline (NS). Methotrexate (positive control) is suspended in NS and orally administered in the autoimmune phase at an interval of 5 days[2].

References:

[1]. King AR, et al. Discovery of potent and reversible monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitors. Chem Biol. 2009 Oct 30;16(10):1045-52.
[2]. Deng Q, et al. Pristimerin inhibits angiogenesis in adjuvant-induced arthritic rats by suppressing VEGFR2 signaling pathways. Int Immunopharmacol. 2015 Dec;29(2):302-13.