Salvia miltiorrhiza-induced apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients

Objective To explore the effect of salvia miltiorrhiza on the apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviosytes(FLSs) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods FLSs were harvested from RA patients by primary culture joint synovial fluid and through 3-5 passages.After treated with salvia miltiorrhiza for 24 h,cells were divided into high-dose(salvia miltiorrhiza's final concentration of 50 mg/mL),low-dose(salvia miltiorrhiza's final concentration of 0.39 mg/mL) and solvent group.The apoptosis of RA FLSs was detected by AnnexinV/FITC and PI with flow cytometry(FCM).Results Compared with that in control group,cell apoptosis rate in high-dose and low-dose groups treated with salvia miltiorrhiza was significantly increased(P0.05),and it was significantly greater in high-dose group than in low-dose group(P0.05).Conclusion Salvia miltiorrhiza can effectively induce the apoptosis of fibroblast-like synoviosytes from rheumatoid arthritis patients.