南方医科大学学报 ›› 2023, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (4): 590-596.doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2023.04.12

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电针可改善骨关节炎大鼠的关节炎症和运动功能:基于调控Wnt-7B/β-catenin信号通路

郑 祥,高颂爱,尤 浩,王浩琦,高彦平,王金丽,李 嘉,李 玲   

  1. 河北省承德医学院,河北 承德 067000;河北省承德医学院附属医院中医科,河北 承德 067000;南方医科大学第三附属医院中医骨伤科,广东 广州 510630;广东省人民医院风湿免疫科,广东省医学科学院,广东 广州 510080
  • 出版日期:2023-04-20 发布日期:2023-05-16

Electroacupuncture improves motor function of rats with osteoarthritis by alleviating joint inflammation through the Wnt-7B/β-catenin signaling pathway

ZHENG Xiang, GAO Songai, YOU Hao, WANG Haoqi, GAO Yanping, WANG Jinli, LI Jia, LI Ling   

  1. Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, China; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, China; Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510630, China; Department of Rheumatology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
  • Online:2023-04-20 Published:2023-05-16

摘要: 目的 探究电针对骨关节炎大鼠的影响及其作用机制。方法 将30只大鼠随机分为模型组、电针组及对照组,10只/组。模型组与电针组大鼠采用改良DMM手术造模法制造骨关节炎模型,电针组造模成功后给予双侧“后三里”和“膝前穴”电针灸治疗,模型组不予干预,对照组为假手术组。根据LequesneMG评分标准,对3组大鼠进行大鼠行为学检测。观察各组大鼠软骨下骨的退变情况。通过ELISA法检测各组大鼠血清中白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、聚蛋白多糖酶-7(ADAMTS-7)、基质金属蛋白酶-3(MMP-3)、软骨寡聚基质蛋白的含量;通过Western blot检测各组大鼠膝关节软骨组织IL-1β、Wnt-7B、β-catenin、ADAMTS-7、MMP-3的表达变化;通过RT-PCR检测软骨组织中IL-1β、Wnt-7B、β-catenin、ADAMTS-7,MMP-3的mRNA。结果 行为学检测发现,模型制备后与对照组相比,模型组、电针组 LequesneMG 评分升高(P<0.05)。治疗 20 d 后,与模型组比较,电针组LequesneMG评分降低(P<0.05)。Micro-CT结果显示,与对照组相比,电针组与模型组大鼠软骨下骨均受到损伤,但电针组大鼠的关节软骨下骨损伤程度低于模型组。与模型组比较,电针组大鼠血清中IL-1β、ADAMTS-7、MMP-3、软骨寡聚基质蛋白的含量降低(P<0.05),软骨组织中IL-1β、Wnt-7B、β-catenin、ADAMTS-7、MMP-3含量降低(P<0.05)。RT-qPCR结果显示与模型组比较,电针组大鼠软骨组织中IL-1β、Wnt-7B、β-catenin、ADAMTS-7、MMP-3 mRNA含量降低(P<0.05)。结论 电针能够有效改善关节疼痛等症状,改善关节软骨下骨的损伤,并且可以降低关节软骨组织、血清中IL-1β缓解关节内炎症,同时通过调控Wnt-7B/β-catenin信号通路降低ADAMTS-7、MMP-3等细胞因子,起到保护软骨的作用。

关键词: 电针;骨关节炎;软骨;软骨下骨;运动功能

Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on osteoarthritis in rats and explore the possible mechanism. Methods Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into osteoarthritis model group, electro-acupuncture group and control group (n=10), and in the former two groups, early osteoarthritis was induced using a modified DMM surgical modeling method. After successful modeling, the rats in the electro-acupuncture group were treated with electro-acupuncture at bilateral "Housanli" and "Anterior knee point". Behavioral tests of the rats were performed and scored using the LequesneMG scale. Subchondral bone degeneration was observed in each group, and serum levels of IL-1β, ADAMTS-7, MMP-3 and COMP were measured using ELISA. The mRNA and protein expressions of IL-1β, Wnt-7B, β-catenin, ADAMTS-7, and MMP-3 in the cartilage tissue of the knee joints were detected using RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results In behavioral tests, the rats in the model and electroacupuncture groups had significantly higher LequesneMG scores after modeling than those in the control group (P<0.05). After 20 days of treatment, LequesneMG scores were significantly lowered in rats in the electroacupuncture as compared with the model rats (P<0.05). Imaging examination revealed obvious subchondral bone damage in both the electroacupuncture group and the model group, but the damages were significantly milder with former group. Compared with the model rats, the rats receiving electroacupuncture had significantly lower serum levels of IL-1β, ADAMTS-7, MMP-3 and COMP (P<0.05) with also lower expressions of IL-1β, Wnt-7B, β-catenin, ADAMTS-7 and MMP-3 in the cartilage tissues at both the mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can alleviate joint pain and improve subchondral bone damage in rats with osteoarthritis by reducing IL-1β levels in the joint cartilage tissue and serum to alleviate joint inflammation and by reducing such cytokines as ADAMTS-7 and MMP-3 via regulating the Wnt-7B/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Key words: electroacupuncture; osteoarthritis; cartilage; subchondral bone; motor function