Papers of the Week

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial tissue, joint dysfunction, and damage. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are endogenous anti-inflammatory compounds, which are quickly converted by the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme into a less active form with decreased biological effects. The inhibition of the sEH enzyme has been used as a strategy to lower nociception and inflammation. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the peripheral treatment with the sEH enzyme inhibitor 1- trifluoromethoxyphenyl-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU) could prevent the hypernociception and inflammation in the albumin-induced arthritis model in rats' temporomandibular joint (TMJ). After the induction of experimental arthritis, animals were assessed for nociceptive behavior test, leukocyte infiltration counts and histologic analysis, ELISA to quantify several cytokines and Western blotting. The peripheral pretreatment with TPPU inhibited the arthritis-induced TMJ hypernociception and leukocyte migration. Moreover, the local concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines were diminished by TPPU, while the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 was up-regulated in the TMJ tissue. Finally, TPPU significantly decreased protein expression of iNOS, while did not alter the expression of MRC1. This study provides evidence that the peripheral administration of TPPU reduces hypernociception and inflammation in TMJ experimental arthritis.