Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL) ameliorates articular cartilage destruction and increases movement velocity of mice with TNFα induced rheumatoid arthritis

Up to 70 million people around the world suffer from rheumatoid arthritis. Current treatment options have varied efficacy and can cause unwanted side effects. New approaches are needed to treat this condition. Sialic acid modifications on chondrocyte receptors have been associated with arthritic inflammation and joint destruction. For example, the transmembrane mucin receptor protein podoplanin (PDPN) has been identified as a functionally relevant receptor that presents extracellular sialic acid motifs. PDPN signaling promotes inflammation and invasion associated with arthritis and, therefore, has emerged as a target that can be used to inhibit arthritic inflammation. Maackia amurensis seed lectin (MASL) can target PDPN on chondrocytes to decrease inflammatory signaling cascades and reduce cartilage destruction in a lipopolysaccharide induced osteoarthritis mouse model. Here, we investigated the effects of MASL on rheumatoid arthritis progression in a TNFα transgenic (TNF-Tg) mouse model. Results from this study indicate that MASL can be administered orally to ameliorate joint malformation and increase velocity of movement exhibited by these TNF-Tg mice. These data support the consideration of MASL as a potential treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.