TNF plays a key role in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA). It remains incompletely understood how TNF can lead to different disease phenotypes such as destructive peripheral polysynovitis in RA versus axial and peripheral osteoproliferative inflammation in SpA. We observed a marked increase of transmembrane (tm) versus soluble (s) TNF in SpA versus RA together with a decrease in the enzymatic activity of ADAM17. In contrast with the destructive polysynovitis observed in classical TNF overexpression models, mice overexpressing tmTNF developed axial and peripheral joint disease with synovitis, enthesitis, and osteitis. Histological and radiological assessment evidenced marked endochondral new bone formation leading to joint ankylosis over time. SpA-like inflammation, but not osteoproliferation, was dependent on TNF-receptor I and mediated by stromal tmTNF overexpression. Collectively, these data indicate that TNF can drive distinct inflammatory pathologies. We propose that tmTNF is responsible for the key pathological features of SpA.

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Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the potential of Sonneratia alba fruit extract to prevent atherosclerosis formation. Methods: Eighteen male Wistar rats were divided into standard or negative control (S), positive control (P) and treatment (T) groups. Atherosclerosis was induced in groups P and T by orally administering a single dose of Vitamin D3 and a high-fat diet for three days. Sonneratia alba fruit extract was given to the T-group for three days. Lipids were enzymatically measured and foam cells were counted in 10 fields of a microscopic view of the abdominal aorta. Results: This study showed higher cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels in the T-group, compared to the other groups. The average number of foam cells in the S-, P-and T-groups were 11.8±3.3 cells, 21.2±2.2 cells and 11.7±2.9 cells, respectively. Statistical analysis with One-Way Anova showed a significant difference in the average number of foam cells (p = 0.042). Further analysis showed a significant difference in the average number of foam cells in groups S with P (p = 0.041) and P with T (p = 0.024). Conclusion: Sonneratia alba fruit extract showed a potential effect to inhibit atherosclerosis process but could not suppress lipid levels in the blood.