Hei Xiao-Yan, Xu Jian-Feng, Zhu Shi-Qiang, Tian Xin-Bao, Zhang Jin-Chen, Chen Yun-Dong, Lin Rui-Zhu
School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750000, China.
School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750000, China; Department of TCM Orthopedics and Traumatology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2021 Aug 25;46(8):656-62. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.200976.
To investigate the effect of internal heat-type acupuncture needle on the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL), and receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rabbits, so as to explore its mechanisms in relieving KOA.
Thirty New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control, model and treatment groups, with 10 rabbits in each group. The KOA model was established by using Hulth method. The rabbits of the treatment group received internal heat-type acupuncture needles (42 ℃) on the left hind limb 20 min, once a week for 4 weeks. The behavioral scores were assessed according to the pain severity, gait, joint motion range and articular swelling severity in reference to the modified Lequesne's methods. Toluidine Blue staining was performed to observe the structure of the subchondral bone and to analyze the difference of morphometric parameters. The protein and mRNA expressions of OPG, RANKL and RANK were detected by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively.
Compared with the control group, the Lequesne total score, the separation degree of trabecular bone, the protein and mRNA expressions of RANKL and RANK in subchondral bone tissues were significantly increased in the model group, while the percentage of trabecular bone area, number of trabecular bone, the expression of OPG protein and mRNA were decreased (<0.05, <0.01). The above indexes were all reversed in the treatment group relevant to those of the model group (<0.05).
The internal heat-type acupuncture needle therapy can improve the motor function of rabbits with KOA, which may be related to its effects in up-regulating the expression of OPG and down-regulating the RANKL and RANK in subchondral bone tissue.
探讨内热式针灸针干预对膝骨关节炎（KOA）兔骨保护素（OPG）、核因子κB受体活化因子配体（RANKL）及核因子κB受体活化因子（RANK）表达的影响，以探究其缓解KOA的作用机制。
将30只新西兰兔随机分为对照组、模型组和治疗组，每组10只。采用Hulth法建立KOA模型。治疗组兔左后肢予内热式针灸针（42℃）干预20分钟，每周1次，共4周。参照改良的Lequesne方法，根据疼痛程度、步态、关节活动范围及关节肿胀程度评估行为学评分。行甲苯胺蓝染色观察软骨下骨结构并分析形态学参数差异。分别采用蛋白质免疫印迹法和实时荧光定量PCR法检测OPG、RANKL及RANK的蛋白和mRNA表达。
与对照组比较，模型组Lequesne总分、小梁骨分离程度、软骨下骨组织中RANKL及RANK的蛋白和mRNA表达均显著升高，而小梁骨面积百分比、小梁骨数量、OPG蛋白及mRNA表达均降低（<0.05，<0.01）。治疗组上述指标与模型组比较均有逆转（<0.05）。
内热式针灸针疗法可改善KOA兔的运动功能，其机制可能与上调软骨下骨组织中OPG表达、下调RANKL及RANK表达有关。
