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Genistein: the potential for efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis

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Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs. Without treatment, inflammation leads to cartilage damage, bone erosions, joint destruction, and impaired movement. Because of the limited success of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, the exploration of new anti-rheumatic drugs with high efficacy and less toxicity is eagerly needed. Genistein, the major active compound from soybean, has received much attention due to its potential beneficial effects on some of the degenerative diseases. It has been found that genistein has anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenesis, antiproliferative, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, pain relief, and joint protection properties. Hence, significant advances have been made, both by in vitro and in vivo studies showing that genistein is a promising agent for RA treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Foundation of China (support numbers 81000786, 81071487 and 81271952). Social Development Program of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No. BE2010744) and Medical Scientific Research Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China (Grant No. H201008)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Translational Medicine Research and Development, Shen Zhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Shenzhen University Town, 1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, China

    Jinchao Li, Yiping Hu, Ye Yue, Wenxiang Cheng & Peng Zhang

  2. Department of Orthopaedics, Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310007, China

    Dong Gang

  3. The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 121 Jiang jia yuan Road, Nanjing, 210011, China

    Xiaowei Yu

  4. Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Clinical Medical College, Ji Nan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

    Xiaohua Pan

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  1. Jinchao Li
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  2. Dong Gang
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  3. Xiaowei Yu
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  4. Yiping Hu
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  5. Ye Yue
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  8. Peng Zhang
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Correspondence to Peng Zhang.

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Li, J., Gang, D., Yu, X. et al. Genistein: the potential for efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Rheumatol 32, 535–540 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-2148-4

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