Therapeutic effects of Melittin acupoint injection on rheumatoid arthritis through autophagy activation and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibition. (PubMed, Quant Imaging Med Surg)
The mice were randomly divided into a CIA model group (MO group), melittin acupoint subcutaneous injection group (ST group), melittin acupoint intramuscular injection group (IT group), and methotrexate group (MTX group), with an additional normal control group (NC group) established...WB analysis showed elevated levels of Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1), beclin-1 (P<0.01), and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 II (LC3II) (P<0.05), and reduced phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR (P<0.05). MAI alleviates RA symptoms by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and promoting autophagy.