Thymoquinone (TQ) is the major active compound derived from the medicinal Nigella sativa. A few studies have shown that TQ exhibits anti-inflammatory activities in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) through mechanisms that are not fully understood. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of TQ and to investigate its influence on the major signalling pathways involved in pathophysiological RA changes. We used isolated human RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and a rat adjuvant-induced arthritis model of RA. In isolated RA FLS, TQ (0-10 µM) was not cytotoxic and inhibited slightly lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced FLS proliferation and strongly H(2)O(2)-induced 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE) generation. By studying different inflammatory and catabolic factors, we determined that TQ significantly abolished LPS-induced interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), metalloproteinase-13, cyclooxygenase-2, and prostaglandin E(2). Furthermore, LPS-induced the phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular-regulated kinases ½, and nuclear factor-kappaB-p65 were also blocked by TQ in time-dependent manner. In our experimental RA model, the oral administration of TQ 5 mg/kg/day significantly reduced the serum levels of HNE, IL-1β and TNFα as well as bone turnover markers, such as alkaline phosphatase and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. The protective effects of TQ against RA were also evident from the decrease in arthritis scoring and bone resorption. In conclusion, the fact that TQ abolishes a number of factors known to be involved in RA pathogenesis renders it a clinically valuable agent in the prevention of articular diseases, including RA.

Aims Machado–Joseph disease (MJD), or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is the most common autosomal dominantly‐inherited ataxia worldwide and is characterised by the accumulation of mutant ataxin‐3 (mutATXN3) in different brain regions, leading to neurodegeneration. Currently, there are no available treatments able to block disease progression. In this study, we investigated whether carbamazepine (CBZ) would activate autophagy and mitigate MJD pathology. Methods The autophagy‐enhancing activity of CBZ and its effects on clearance of mutATXN3 were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo models of MJD. To investigate the optimal treatment regimen, a daily or intermittent CBZ administration was applied to MJD transgenic mice expressing a truncated human ATXN3 with 69 glutamine repeats. Motor behaviour tests and immunohistology was performed to access the alleviation of MJD‐associated motor deficits and neuropathology. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the CBZ effect in MJD patients. Results We found that CBZ promoted the activation of autophagy and the degradation of mutATXN3 in MJD models upon short or intermittent, but not daily prolonged, treatment regimens. CBZ up‐regulated autophagy through activation of AMPK, which was dependent on the myo‐inositol levels. In addition, intermittent CBZ treatment improved motor performance, as well as prevented neuropathology in MJD transgenic mice. However, in patients, no evident differences in SARA scale were found, which was not unexpected given the small number of patients included in the study. Conclusions Our data support the autophagy‐enhancing activity of CBZ in the brain and suggest this pharmacological approach as a promising therapy for MJD and other polyglutamine disorders.

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