Effects of sorafenib on fibroblast-like synoviocyte apoptosis in rats with adjuvant arthritis

•Freund’s complete adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) models were obtained with Sprague-Dawley rats.•Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) were obtained from the knee joints of AA rats and cultured in vitro.•Sorafenib induced apoptosis in AA FLSs detected by TUNEL method and flow cytometry analysis.•Sorafenib increased the expression levels of Fas, Caspase-3 and Mcl-1 in AA FLSs and decreased NF-κB and C-jun expression.•Sorafenib exerts an inhibitory effect on AA rats in vivo via AA FLS apoptotic induction.•Sorafenib has potential therapeutic use for RA.