Electroacupuncture Delays Cartilage Degeneration by Modulating Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway.
Chin J Integr Med
; 25(9): 677-683, 2019 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30656598
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on knee osteoarthritis (OA).METHODS:
Twenty-seven six-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into three groups in accordance with a random number table normal group (no surgery-induced OA; without treatment), model group (surgery-induced OA; without treatment) and EA group [surgery-induced OA; received treatment with EA at acupoints Dubi (ST 35) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 5), 30 min twice a day]. After eight consecutive weeks of treatment, the histopathological alterations in cartilage were observed using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, cartilage degeneration was evaluated by modified Mankin's score principles, the synovial fluid concentration of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the protein expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-3, IκB kinase-ß (IKK-ß), nuclear factor of α light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor α (IκB-α) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 were quantified by Western blot analysis.RESULTS:
EA treatment significantly improved cartilage structure arrangement and reduced cellular degeneration. The IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and MMP-3 of synovial fluid in the EA-treated group were significantly decreased compared with the model group (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-3, IKK-ß and NF-κB p65 protein expressions in cartilage of EA-treated group were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), whereas IκB-α expression was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:
EA treatment may delay cartilage degeneration by down-regulating inflammatory factors through NF-κB signaling pathway, which may, in part, explain its clinical efficacy in the treatment of knee OA.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Signal Transduction
/
Cartilage, Articular
/
Electroacupuncture
/
NF-kappa B
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Chin J Integr Med
Journal subject:
TERAPIAS COMPLEMENTARES
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
China