Rutin ameliorates inflammatory pain by inhibiting P2X7 receptor in mast cells

Rutin is a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient widely found in medicinal plants. Studies have shown that rutin inhibits mast cell degranulation and the release of inflammatory mediators. Mast cell P2X7 receptor mediates mast cell degranulation and serves as a therapeutic target for inflammatory pain. Herein, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the anti-inflammatory mechanism of rutin is related to the mast cell P2X7 receptor. Our results showed that rutin could inhibit [Ca 2+ ] i elevation induced by 5 mM ATP or 30 μM BZATP in a concentration-dependent manner in mouse peritoneal mast cells. Rutin also suppressed the inward current mediated by P2X7 receptor. In vivo, rutin could significantly inhibit the mechanical hypersensitivity induced by 100 mM ATP that is associated with P2X7 receptor in mast cells. Moreover, molecular docking revealed the high affinity between rutin and the P2X7 receptor crystal structure. Collectively, this study demonstrated that rutin attenuated inflammatory pain by inhibiting the activity of P2X7 receptor in mast cells.