Role of the CXCR4-Gnαq-Plcβ signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of collagen-induced arthritis in rats

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which immune cells and inflammatory cytokines are abnormally activated, leading to immunoregulatory dysfunction in the body and triggering systemic inflammatory responses. The interaction between CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and heterotrimeric G-protein α-subunit Gαq (Gnαq) activates phospholipase Cβ (PLCβ), which influences the expression of downstream effectors and participates widely in the onset and development of various diseases, thus suggesting the potential involvement of these molecules in RA pathogenesis. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether the CXCR4-Gnαq-PLCβ signaling pathway participates in the onset and development of RA. Using a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model, we found that compared with the control (healthy) rat group, CIA rats exhibited highly time-dependent arthritis, with the maximum arthritis score occurring in week 3. In contrast to the splenic and joint tissue of control rats, CIA rats showed obvious hyperplasia in the lymphoid white pulp and main germination centers of the spleen, narrowing of joint cavities, and inflammatory cellular infiltration on articular surfaces. The serum levels of expression of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly elevated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Core genes of the CXCR4-Gnαq-PLCβ pathway, namely CXCR4, Gnαq, PLCβ1, MMP1, and MMP3, also showed a significant increase in mRNA and protein expression levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Proteins related to the CXCR4-Gnαq-PLCβ pathway were mainly localized to the red and white pulp regions in the spleen as well as in stromal, endothelial, and subdifferentiated synovial cells in the joints. These results indicated that CXCR4 is dependent on Gnαq for inducing the expression of PLCβ1 and stimulation of secretion of inflammatory cytokines by inflammatory cells. This consequently affects the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which serve as downstream effectors, thereby promoting RA pathogenesis. Our findings play an important role in elucidating the mechanisms of the onset and development of RA.