南方医科大学学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (8): 1886-1895.doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2026.08.16

• • 上一篇    

电针通过调控TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB信号通路减轻膝关节骨关节炎大鼠膝关节软骨凋亡

李春宁1(), 杨琪琪2, 张振丰1, 鲍亮1, 姜天鑫2, 张玉3, 李飞2()   

  1. 1.安徽中医药大学第二临床医学院,安徽 合肥 230061
    2.安徽中医药大学第二附属医院康复二科,安徽 合肥 230061
    3.阜阳市中医医院针灸科,安徽 阜阳 236001
  • 收稿日期:2025-12-04 出版日期:2026-08-20 发布日期:2026-08-01
  • 通讯作者: 李飞 E-mail:1141693303@qq.com;leagcen@163.com
  • 作者简介:李春宁,在读硕士研究生,E-mail: 1141693303@qq.com
  • 基金资助:
    国家青年岐黄学者支持项目(国中医药人教函(2022)256号);第九批安徽省特支计划人才项目(皖组办字〔2023〕35号);安徽省华佗中医药研究院科技重大专项(BZKZ2401);安徽省自然科学基金面上项目(2308085MH297);安徽高校自然科学重大研究项目(2023AH040099);安徽省临床医学研究转化专项(202427b10020060);安徽省高等学校科学研究重点项目(2024AH050918);阜阳市重点研究与开发计划项目(FK20245541);安徽中医药大学“基础-临床融合”专项(JCLCA2025007)

Electroacupuncture alleviates articular chondrocyte apoptosis in rats with knee osteoarthritis by regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway

Chunning LI1(), Qiqi YANG2, Zhenfeng ZHANG1, Liang BAO1, Tianxin JIANG2, Yu ZHANG3, Fei LI2()   

  1. 1.Second Clinical Medical College of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230061, China
    2.Second Department of Rehabilitation, Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230061, China
    3.Department of Acupuncture, Fuyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Fuyang 236001, China
  • Received:2025-12-04 Online:2026-08-20 Published:2026-08-01
  • Contact: Fei LI E-mail:1141693303@qq.com;leagcen@163.com

摘要:

目的 探讨电针调控Toll样受体4(TLR4)/髓样分化因子88(MyD88)/核转录因子-κB(NF-κB)信号通路对膝关节骨关节炎(KOA)大鼠软骨组织凋亡的影响。 方法 27只SPF级SD大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组和电针组(n=9)。采用碘乙酸钠(MIA)法复制KOA大鼠模型。电针组予“内膝眼”“犊鼻”“血海”“阳陵泉”电针干预(疏密波,2/100 Hz,0.5~1.0 mA,20 min/d,14 d)。LequesneMG行为学量表评估大鼠膝关节功能、苏木精-伊红染色(HE)观察大鼠软骨细胞病理改变;透射电镜(TEM)观察大鼠软骨细胞超微结构形态、Western blotting检测TLR4、MyD88、NF-κBp65、II型胶原蛋白(COL2)、X型胶原蛋白(COL10)、Bcl-2关联X蛋白(Bax)、B淋巴细胞瘤-2蛋白(Bcl-2)、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3蛋白(Caspase-3)表达水平,实时荧光定量PCR法检测软骨组织TLR4、MyD88、NF-κB p65 mRNA表达水平;酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测各组大鼠血清中白细胞介素(IL)-1β、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α水平。另取15只SPF级SD大鼠,随机分为空白组、模型组、抑制剂组(TAK-242)、电针组、假电针组(n=3),Western blotting检测高迁移率族蛋B1(HMGB1)及通路关键蛋白表达,并分析NF-κB p65核转位情况。 结果 与空白组比较,模型组大鼠LequesneMG评分升高,HE染色可见膝关节软骨细胞减少,细胞肿胀,细胞核固缩、消失,电镜下软骨细胞膜失去完整性,细胞核呈不规则形态,染色质固缩呈团块状,线粒体肿胀、嵴被破坏,TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB p65、COL10、Bax、Caspase-3蛋白及mRNA表达升高,COL2、Bcl-2表达降低,血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平升高(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,电针干预可显著降低LequesneMG评分,改善软骨组织结构损伤及细胞超微结构异常;下调TLR4、MyD88、NF-κB p65及Bax、Caspase-3表达,上调Bcl-2表达,同时降低血清IL-1β、TNF-α水平(P<0.01)。Western blotting结果显示,模型组大鼠软骨组织中HMGB1蛋白表达显著升高(P<0.01),并伴随NF-κBp65核转位增强;电针干预后HMGB1表达下降,NF-κB p65核内表达降低、胞质表达回升(P<0.01)。TLR4抑制剂组呈现相似变化趋势,而假电针组未见明显改善(P>0.05)。同时,TLR4、MyD88及NF-κB p65的mRNA表达变化趋势与蛋白水平一致。 结论 电针可能通过抑制HMGB1介导的TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB信号通路异常激活,减少NF-κB p65核转位,进而调节Bcl-2/Bax表达平衡,抑制线粒体依赖性软骨细胞凋亡过程,从而发挥抗炎及抗凋亡作用并改善KOA软骨损伤。

关键词: 膝关节骨关节炎, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB信号通路, 电针, 凋亡, 膝关节软骨

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on chondrocyte apoptosis in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and the underlying mechanism. Methods Twenty-seven SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, KOA model group, and EA group (n=9). Rat models of KOA were established by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate, and EA treatment was administered at the acupoints "Neixiyan", "Dubi", "Xuehai", and "Yanglingquan" (dense-sparse wave, 2/100 Hz, 0.5-1.0 mA, 20 min/day for 14 days). Knee function of the rats was assessed using Lequesne MG scale, and cartilage pathologies and ultrastructural changes were observed with HE staining and transmission electron microscopy. The protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65, COL2, COL10, Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 and mRNA levels of TLR4, MyD88, and NF‑κB p65 were detected using Western blotting and RT-qPCR; serum levels of IL-1β and TNF‑α were determined with ELISA. Another 15 rats were randomized into blank control, model, TLR4 inhibitor (TAK-242), EA, and sham-EA groups (n=3) for analysis of HMGB1 and key pathway protein expressions and NF‑κB p65 nuclear translocation. Results The KOA rats showed increased Lequesne MG scores, obvious chondrocyte injuries, upregulated TLR4, MyD88, NF‑κB p65, COL10, Bax, and caspase-3 expressions, increased serum IL-1β and TNF‑α levels with decreased COL2 and Bcl-2 expressions. EA significantly reduced Lequesne MG scores, improved cartilage pathologies and reversed the abnormal changes in protein expressions and inflammatory cytokines. The KOA rats showed increased HMGB1 expression and enhanced NF‑κB p65 nuclear translocation, and EA treatment effectively decreased HMGB1 expression, reduced nuclear NF‑κB p65, and increased cytoplasmic NF‑κB p65. The TLR4 inhibitor produced similar effects, while sham EA produced no significant effect. Conclusion EA alleviates cartilage injury in KOA rats possibly by inhibiting HMGB1-mediated activation of TLR4/MyD88/NF‑κB signaling and NF‑κB p65 nuclear translocation to regulate Bcl-2/Bax balance and suppress mitochondria-dependent chondrocyte apoptosis.

Key words: knee osteoarthritis, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, electroacupuncture, apoptosis, knee cartilage