Abstract:Objective:To study the effect of triptolide on the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 in the rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocyte line,MH7A. Methods:Rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocyte line,MH7A were incubated for 24 hours with 20 ng/ml of recombinant human TNF-α then were treated with Triptolide of different concentration(1 μg/ml,5 μg/ml,25 μg/ml and 75 μg/ml). Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and matrix metallproteinases(MMP-9)were measured in cell supernatants by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay(ELISA). Results:After TNFα stimulation,VEGF and MMP-9 production was highly increased in the supernatants. Triptolide caused a dose-dependent decrease in VEGF and MMP-9. The inhibited effect of Triptolide on the expression of VEGF and MMP-9 is stronger than that of Dexamethasone. Conclusion:Triptolide can inhibit the regulative factor of angiogenesis VEGF and MMP-9 expression.