scholarly journals Acupuncture reduces pain in rats with osteoarthritis by inhibiting MCP2/CCR2 signaling pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (18) ◽  
pp. 1722-1731
Author(s):  
Bocun Li ◽  
Li Jing ◽  
Li Jia ◽  
Tan Qian ◽  
Chen Jianyi ◽  
...  

Acupuncture is an emerging alternative therapy that has been beneficial for the pain of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the underlying mechanism of protective effect remains unclear. MCP1/CCR2 axis can be stimulated in various periods of OA, and we hypothesize that acupuncture may treat OA by regulating the MCP1/CCR2 axis. This study aimed to explore the effect of acupuncture at points ST35 and ST36 on the effects of hyperalgesia and cartilage in OA rats including the expression of chemokines, nerve growth factor (NGF), and inflammatory-related proteins. OA was induced in male Sprague–Dawley rats by anterior cruciate ligament transection at the right knee. The first acupuncture intervention was performed on the seventh day after surgery and once a day for seven weeks. The knee-pain-related behaviors, histology, and related protein were examined in this study. We have found that electroacupuncture at ST35 and ST36 can significantly alleviate the hyperalgesia and cartilage degeneration as well as reducing nerve sprouting in OA knee joint. Moreover, acupuncture treatment may inhibit the MCP1/CCR2 axis as well as down-regulate inflaming factor and NGF in cartilage and synovial tissue. The data presented here indicate that acupuncture exerts a protective effect against hyperalgesia and cartilage degeneration, and the mechanism might involve in chemokines and NGF pathway.

Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Hsuan-Ti Huang ◽  
Tsung-Lin Cheng ◽  
Cheng-Jung Ho ◽  
Han Hsiang Huang ◽  
Cheng-Chang Lu ◽  
...  

(-)-Epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG) is the main active green tea catechin and has a wide variety of benefits for health. Post-traumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA) occurs as a consequence of joint injuries that commonly happen in the young population. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG on PTOA prevention by using the anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)–OA model and further investigated the roles of autophagy in OA treatment. Our results showed that intra-articular injection of EGCG significantly improved the functional performances and decreased cartilage degradation. EGCG treatment attenuated the inflammation on synovial tissue and cartilage through less immunostained cyclooxygenase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-13. We further noted EGCG may modulate the chondrocyte apoptosis by activation of the cytoprotective autophagy through reducing the expression of the mTOR and enhancing the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3, beclin-1, and p62. In conclusion, intra-articular injection of EGCG after ACL injury inhibited the joint inflammation and cartilage degradation, thereby increasing joint function. EGCG treatment also reduced the chondrocyte apoptosis, possibly by activating autophagy. These findings suggested that EGCG may be a potential disease-modifying drug for preventing OA progression.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tianwen Ma ◽  
Yajing Wen ◽  
Xiaopeng Song ◽  
Hailong Hu ◽  
Yue Li ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundLameness caused by osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the main causes of disability in elderly dogs. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are important tools in the treatment of canine OA. In recent years, due to the many side effects of NSAIDs, patients cannot tolerate or do not want to take the risk of NSAIDs. People are becoming more and more interested in new treatments for canine OA, and so-called nutritional supplements have emerged. Puerarin has a wide range of pharmacological activities and is often used as a clinical prescription drug and dietary supplement in China. However, the effect of puerarin on canine OA has not been evaluated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-cartilage degradation effects of puerarin in a canine OA model induced by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and to detect the serum inflammatory factor interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) levels and cartilage degradation biomarker C-terminal telopeptides of collagen type II (CTX-II), cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS 846) levels in serum and synovial fluid at different periods of puerarin administration. ResultsEight weeks after the administration, the veterinarian performed clinical and imaging evaluations to comprehensively evaluate the protective effect of puerarin on canine OA. Daily oral administration of 20 mg/kg puerarin can significantly inhibit the expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in serum within 8 weeks (P < 0.05), and its anti-inflammatory effect is similar to oral celecoxib (negative control group). Puerarin has a certain protective effect on articular cartilage and can reduce the level of biomarkers CTX-II, COMP and CS 846 in serum and synovial fluid in the early stage of OA (P < 0.05). In addition, the clinical scores and radiographs scores were significantly reduced after 8 weeks of puerarin treatment (P < 0.05). ConclusionsCanine OA cartilage may be mediated through anti-inflammatory, anti-metabolism and anabolic effects, and strongly down-regulate the inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and cartilage degradation biomarkers CTX-II, COMP and CS 846 are related, providing a good alternative therapy for OA.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Wen Yen ◽  
Ying-Jiun Lai ◽  
Zwe-Ling Kong

Osteoarthritis (OA), also called degenerative joint disease, is characterized by joint cartilage loss and is strongly linked to obesity. Medicine to alleviate pain is currently the only treatment. Shiikuwasha extract (SE) has been reported to possess valuable bioactive substances exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, and anticancer effects. Research is limited to the use of SE in the treatment of OA and obesity. We performed both anterior cruciate ligament transections and medial meniscectomies to induce OA on Sprague–Dawley rats after 11 weeks of a high fat diet followed by 9 weeks of oral SE administration (300, 600, and 1500 mg/kg). This study showed that SE treatment could reduce weight gain and joint pain. Additionally, SE significantly decreased triglycerides and total cholesterol in plasma of the S1500 group but increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the plasma of the S600 group. Meanwhile, plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) was significantly reduced in the S1500 groups. Histopathological findings confirmed administration of SE attenuated cartilage degeneration. Immunohistochemistry examination demonstrated that caspase 3 and phospho-Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2) expression levels on chondrocytes were downregulated by SE treatment. Our findings demonstrate that SE can alleviate OA progression by improving obesity.


Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Yuichiro Oka ◽  
Kenij Murata ◽  
Kaichi Ozone ◽  
Takuma Kano ◽  
Yuki Minegishi ◽  
...  

Cartilage degeneration is the main pathological component of knee osteoarthritis (OA), but no effective treatment for its control exists. Although exercise can inhibit OA, the abnormal joint movement with knee OA must be managed to perform exercise. Our aims were to determine how controlling abnormal joint movement and treadmill exercise can suppress cartilage degeneration, to analyze the tissues surrounding articular cartilage, and to clarify the effect of treatment. Twelve-week-old ICR mice (n = 24) underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACL-T) surgery on their right knees and were divided into three groups as follows: ACL-T, animals in the walking group subjected to ACL-T; controlled abnormal joint movement (CAJM), and CAJM with exercise (CAJM + Ex) (n = 8/group). Walking-group animals were subjected to treadmill exercise 6 weeks after surgery, including walking for 18 m/min, 30 min/day, 3 days/week for 8 weeks. Safranin-O staining, hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunohistochemical staining were performed. The OARSI (Osteoarthritis research Society international) score was lower in the CAJM group than in the ACL-T group and was even lower in the CAJM + Ex group. The CAJM group had a lower meniscal injury score than the ACL-T group, and the CAJM + Ex group demonstrated a less severe synovitis than the ACL-T and CAJM groups. The observed difference in the perichondrium tissue damage score depending on the intervention method suggests different therapeutic effects, that normalizing joint motion can solve local problems in the knee joint, and that the anti-inflammatory effect of treadmill exercise can suppress cartilage degeneration.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 897-906
Author(s):  
XiaoChen Ju ◽  
Hao Chai ◽  
Sasirekha Krishnan ◽  
Abinaya Jaisankar ◽  
Murugan Ramalingam ◽  
...  

Acute anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a key structure that stabilizes knee joints. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of ligament remnants preserved on the tendon-bone healing following ACL reconstruction and to examine postoperative articular cartilage degeneration in rabbit as a model animal. Sixty New Zealand rabbits are randomly divided into an ACL reconstruction without remnant preservation group (Group A; n = 30) or ACL reconstruction with remnant preservation group (Group B; n = 30). The expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and micro vessel density (MVD) in the transplanted tendon was detected by immunohistochemical staining at week 6 and 12 after the operation. The signal intensity of the transplanted tendon was observed by MRI scanning, and the width of the bone tunnel was measured by CT scanning at week 6 and 12 after the operation. The graft biomechanics was tested 12 weeks after the operation. The JNK and MMP-13 expression levels were compared to analyze the cartilage degeneration of the knee at week 12 after the operation. The experimental results were analyzed and showed that the remnant-preserving ACL reconstruction is beneficial for bone healing of the tendon in rabbits, but ACL reconstruction with or without ligament remnants preserved will not affect knee articular cartilage degeneration post-surgery.


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