Highlights

• This patent reveals that SPRC, an endogenous hydrogen sulfide donor, can treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by targeting and inhibiting Neuron Navigator 2 (NAV2). SPRC dose-dependently reduces joint swelling and pain, and significantly lowers inflammatory cytokine levels.
• Mechanistic studies showed that NAV2 is highly expressed in RA patients and exacerbates inflammation and cellular invasion via Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation. SPRC blocks this pathway by suppressing NAV2 expression.
• This work provides critical evidence supporting both NAV2 as a novel therapeutic target and the clinical potential of SPRC in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary

This invention patent reveals a novel molecular mechanism by which the endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) donor S-propargyl-cysteine (SPRC) exerts its therapeutic effects in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and it is the first to identify Neuron Navigator 2 (NAV2) as a key molecular target.

The study demonstrated that SPRC alleviates joint swelling and pain in a dose-dependent manner in RA model rats and significantly reduces the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Mechanistically, NAV2 is abnormally overexpressed in both the peripheral blood and synovial fibroblasts of patients with RA. It promotes inflammation, cell proliferation, invasion, and migration through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. SPRC inhibits NAV2 expression, thereby blocking activation of this pathway and exerting its anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects.

This patent not only identifies NAV2 as a promising new therapeutic target for RA, but also provides strong theoretical support for the development of SPRC as a drug based on endogenous hydrogen sulfide donation.

朱依谆, 王冉, “Application of Endogenous Hydrogen Sulfide Donor in the Preparation of Drugs for Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis,” China Patent CN113181155A, Jul. 30, 2021.