{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T08:18:07Z","timestamp":1788337087936,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"World Scientific Pub Co Pte Ltd","issue":"06","funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001809","name":"National Natural Science Foundation of China","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","award":["82305109"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["82305109"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001809","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]},{"name":"Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine","award":["20261106"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["20261106"]}]},{"name":"Guangdong Special Support Program for Outstanding Young Talent","award":["0820250224"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["0820250224"]}]},{"name":"Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine University-Hospital Science and Technology Innovation Fund","award":["GZYSE2024G03"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GZYSE2024G03"]}]},{"name":"\u201cGuben\u201d Project First-class Discipline Capacity Enhancement Program of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine","award":["GZY2025GB0130"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GZY2025GB0130"]}]},{"name":"\u201cQiangxin\u201d Project First-class Discipline Capacity Enhancement Program of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine","award":["GZY2025QX13"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["GZY2025QX13"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Am. J. Chin. Med."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation and progressive joint damage. This study investigated the role of microRNA-223 (miR-223) in RA and evaluated the therapeutic effects of triptolide (Tri), a diterpenoid epoxide derived from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii. A collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model was used to assess the effects of Tri and methotrexate (MTX). Micro-computed tomography, histological staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, and western blot analysis were used to evaluate joint damage, inflammation, cytokine profiles, miR-223 expression, and the function of CREBZF, a downstream target of miR-223. CIA mice exhibited marked joint inflammation, swelling, bone erosion, and inflammatory cell infiltration, increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and elevated miR-223 expression. Tri and MTX ameliorated these abnormalities and protected against bone erosion and inflammation. Tri suppressed the disease-associated elevation of miR-223, attenuated pathological fibroblast-like synoviocyte (RA-FLS) phenotypes, and shifted cytokine profiles toward an anti-inflammatory state. Dual-luciferase reporter and AGO2-RIP-qPCR assays supported direct regulation of CREBZF by miR-223. Tri restored CREBZF expression and inhibited NF-\u03ba B signaling, thereby reducing RA-FLS proliferation and promoting apoptosis. These findings indicate that Tri ameliorates RA, at least partly, through the miR-223\/CREBZF axis and identify this pathway as a potential therapeutic target.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1142\/s0192415x26500734","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,20]],"date-time":"2026-08-20T15:50:05Z","timestamp":1787241005000},"page":"1955-1977","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Triptolide Improves Rheumatoid Arthritis by Regulating M1\/M2 Balance Through the miR-223\/CREBZF Axis"],"prefix":"10.1142","volume":"54","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3434-1422","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Xiao-Bao","family":"Liu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"State Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, The First Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China"},{"name":"Department of Rheumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, 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