类风湿性关节炎(RA)是严重危害人类健康的疾病，临床研究已证实雷公藤在治疗 RA中发挥至关重要的作用，其确切机制尚未阐明。资料表明，雷公藤可能通过抑制IL-17细胞因子实现抗炎作用来治疗RA。国内外研究证实，Th17细胞在RA发病过程中扮演着重要角色。本项目建立佐剂性关节炎大鼠模型，采用药动学-药效学结合模型研究给予不同剂量的雷公藤有效成分后血清中雷公藤活性成分与药效指标和细胞因子的关系，并进一步研究血清中活性成分的浓度与关节病理变化的关系，揭示雷公藤治疗RA的活性成分及生物靶标。采用LC-MS技术、流式细胞术、Real-time PCR、Western Blot、ELISA等先进实验技术，从RNA、蛋白水平及细胞、组织形态学等不同层次研究雷公藤对Th17细胞介导的信号通路的作用，探讨雷公藤治疗RA的作用机理。在此基础上，进一步研究雷公藤治疗RA病人的作用机制，为临床合理用药提供依据。

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of major disease that damages human health severely. Clinical studies have identified that Tripterygium Wilfordii plays an important role in RA treatment, but the exact mechanism has not been clarified. Data indicate that Tripterygium Wilfordii may anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting IL-17 cells factor to treat RA. Domestic and international studies have confirmed that Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. This project is to establish a rat model for adjuvant arthritis. The relationship of tripterygium active ingredients, efficacy, and cytokines in the serum will be studied by using of the pharmacokinetic- pharmacodynamic model after administration of tripterygium piece. The relationship between concentration of active ingredient in serum and articular pathological changes will help for further study of the active ingredients and bio-target for RA treatment with Tripterygium. Objectively, the present study was to explore the tripterygium wilfordii treatment of RA mechanism from RNA, protein levels and cell and tissue morphology aspects with advanced experimental techniques, such as LC-MS technology, advanced experimental techniques in flow cytometry, Real-time PCR, Western blot, ELISA. Based on these, further researches on tripterygium wilfordii treatment of RA mechanism to supply the reasonable guide for using medication on clinical.