Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41918739›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Catalpol mitigates rheumatoid arthritis by targeting neutrophil extracellular trap release.

Chaoding Li, Liping Wang, Qianyu Li, Wenjie Zhao, Zhengguang Hui, Zhen Zhang, Lu Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Chaoding Li *Department of Orthopedics, Xuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xuzhou, China.
Liping Wang *Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Qianyu Li *Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Wenjie ZhaoJiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.
Zhengguang HuiDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xuzhou, China.
Zhen ZhangDepartment of Orthopedics, Xuzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xuzhou, China.
Lu ZhaoJiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent synovial inflammation, progressive joint damage, and systemic manifestations. Current therapies, including NSAIDs, DMARDs, and biologics, face limitations such as side effects and high costs. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), driven by peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4), play a pivotal role in RA pathogenesis by promoting inflammation and cartilage degradation. Catalpol (CAT), an iridoid glycoside known for its anti-inflammatory properties, exhibits therapeutic promise through targeting NET-related mechanisms. Methods: A collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model was established in male DBA/1 mice. Mice were treated with CAT (30 mg/kg) or vehicle. Joint damage was assessed via micro-CT and histological staining (H&E, Safranin O, Toluidine Blue). NETs and inflammatory markers were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, qRT-PCR, and immunofluorescence. Isolated neutrophils were stimulated with PMA Results: CAT treatment significantly ameliorated ankle swelling, bone erosion, synovial hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, and cartilage degradation in CIA mice. It suppressed the expression of NET-associated markers (Cit-H3, MPO, NE) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6) in joint tissues. CAT also inhibited the expression of matrix-degrading enzymes (MMP3, MMP13) and osteoclast-related factors (MMP9, CTSK, Tracp-5b). Conclusion: Catalpol exerts a protective effect in the CIA model by inhibiting PAD4-mediated NET formation, thereby reducing synovial inflammation, cartilage degradation, and bone erosion. Our findings highlight NETs as a promising therapeutic target and suggest catalpol's potential as a novel agent for RA treatment.

Indexed as

Anti-Inflammatory AgentsArthritis, ExperimentalArthritis, RheumatoidExtracellular TrapsIridoid GlucosidesNeutrophilsAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalMaleMiceMice, Inbred DBAProtein-Arginine Deiminase Type 4Anti-Inflammatory AgentscatalpolIridoid Glucosidespeptidylarginine deiminase 4, mouseProtein-Arginine Deiminase Type 4cartilage degradationcatalpolneutrophil extracellular trapsPAD4rheumatoid arthritis

Identifiers

PMID41918739
PMCPMC13033488

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.