Edaravone inhibits rheumatoid synovial cell proliferation and migration

Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA) is characterized by synovial proliferation and migration which is induced by proinflammatory cytokines or oxidative stress, followed by joint destruction. Edaravone, clinically available free radical scavenger in Japan, is confirmed to be beneficial in the acute stage of cerebral infarction. We aimed to investigate whether edaravone suppressed in vitro proliferation and migration of synovial cells (SC) induced by IL-1 beta. SC proliferation and migration induced by IL-1 beta were dose-dependently suppressed by edaravone at the clinically available concentration. These data suggest that edaravone has potential effects to suppress SC proliferation and migration, followed by suppression of synovial proliferation in RA. Therefore, edaravone, an antioxidant agent, might be a novel therapeutic agent which develops the new strategy for treatment of RA, and more detailed studies are required to establish the therapeutic effect of edaravone on RA in vivo.