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Homeopathy 2020; 109(03): 140-145
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1708044
Original Research Article
The Faculty of Homeopathy

Fibronectin Gene Up-regulation by Arnica montana in Human Macrophages: Validation by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay

Marta Marzotto
1   Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
Fabio Arruda-Silva
1   Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
,
Paolo Bellavite
1   Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
› Author Affiliations Funding This work was supported by grants from Boiron Laboratories (Lyon, France) to the University of Verona and from the Italian Research Ministry.
Further Information

Publication History

12 December 2019

21 January 2020

Publication Date:
20 April 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Background and Aim Arnica montana L. (Arnica m.) is a popular traditional medicine, used for its therapeutic properties in healing traumas, but little is known about its biological action on tissue formation and repair. This new work tested the effects of Arnica m. homeopathic dilutions on human macrophages, key cells in tissue defence and repair.

Materials and Methods Macrophages derived from the THP-1 cell line were differentiated with interleukin-4 to induce a ‘wound-healing’-like phenotype, and treated with various dilutions of Arnica m. centesimal (100 times) dilutions (2c, 3c, 5c, 9c, and 15c) or control solvent for 24 hours. RNA samples from cultured cells were analysed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction in five separate experiments.

Results Arnica montana at the 2c dilution (final concentration of sesquiterpene lactones in cell culture = 10−8 mol/L) significantly stimulated the expression of three genes which code for regulatory proteins of the extracellular matrix, namely FN1 (fibronectin 1, % increase of 21.8 ± standard error of the mean 4.6), low-density lipoprotein-receptor-related protein 1 (% increase of 33.4 ± 6.1) and heparan sulphate proteoglycan 2 (% increase of 21.6 ± 9.1). Among these genes, the most quantitatively expressed was FN1. In addition, FN1, unlike other candidate genes, was upregulated in cells treated with higher dilutions/dynamisations (3c, 5c, and 15c) of Arnica m.

Conclusion The results support evidence that the extracellular matrix is a potential therapeutic target of Arnica m., with positive effects on cell adhesion and migration during tissue development and healing.

Keywords

Arnica montana - macrophage - homeopathic medicines - wound healing - gene expression - inflammation - extracellular matrix - fibronectin

Highlights

• Macrophages derived from the THP-1 cell line were differentiated with IL-4 to induce a ‘wound-healing’-like phenotype.


• Measurements using RT-qPCR assay indicated that macrophages are a pharmacological target of Arnica m.


• A slight but statistically significant up-regulation of three ECM genes was observed.


• FN1 (fibronectin 1) is the major gene whose expression was stimulated by Arnica m.


• We conclude that Arnica montana impacts a network of biological functions including inflammation and extracellular matrix regulation.


 

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