Home  About Journal Instructions for Authors Editorial Board Subscribe Advertisement Messages Board Contact Us 中文

CJAP ›› 2018, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (2): 177-181.doi: 10.12047/j.cjap.5603.2018.043

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The therapeutic effects of Yougui pill on knee osteoarthritis and the expression of Wnt signal pathway related factors in rats

YAN Chun-lu1,6, LI Sheng-hua4, AN Fang-yu1, LIU Yong-qi2, XIA Peng-fei3, MA Zheng-min4, NIU Yan-qiang5, LIU Peng-yao4   

  1. 1. Teaching Experiment Training Center, Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    3. Scientific Research Experiment Center, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    4. Clinical College of traditional Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    5. Clinical College, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    6. Provincial-Level Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Quality Control of Chinese Tibetan Medicine, Lanzhou 730000, China
  • Received:2017-05-24 Revised:2017-10-31 Online:2018-03-28 Published:2018-05-22
  • Supported by:
    甘肃省中医药管理局科研项目(GZK-2017-2);兰州市城关区科技局项目(2016-7-16);甘肃省高校中(藏)药化学与质量研究省级重点实验室开放基金项目(zzy-2015-04);甘肃中医药大学教学研究与教学改革项目(ZH-201606)

Abstract: Objective:To observe the effects of Yougui pill (Traditional Chinese Medicine) on the related factors of Wnt signal pathway of rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and explore its protective mechanism. Methods:Sixty SPF SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operative group, model group, glucosamine sulfate group, high-dose, middle-dose, low-dose of Yougui pill treated group (n=10). KOA model was established by modified Hulth method for six weeks. The rats in the high, middle and low-dose of Yougui pill group were treated with Yougui pills at the doses of 20,10 and 5 g/kg respectively by gastrogavage once a day for 8 weeks, while equal volume of normal saline was given to those in the sham and model control group and an equal volume of glucosamine sulfate (1.7 g/kg·d) was given to those in glucosamine sulfate group for 8 weeks. The knee joint was removed after the last dose of drug. The pathological changes of cartilaginous tissues were observed under a microscope. The mRNA levels of Dickkopf homolog 1(DKK1), Wnt induced secreted protein 1(WISP1), Wnt1, low density lipoprotein receptor related protein 5(LRP5) and beta -catenin in rats cartilaginous tissues were analyzed by using RT-PCR method, and the protein contents of DKK1, WISP1, Wnt1, LRP5 and beta-catenin in cartilaginous tissues were detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with the sham group, the articular cartilage was severely damaged, the Mankin score was increased significantly (P<0. 05), the mRNA and protein expression levels of DKK1 in cartilaginous tissue were markedly decreased(P<0.05), while those of WISP, Wnt1, LRP5 and beta-catenin were increased significantly in model group(P<0.05). Compared with model group, the articular cartilage lesions was light (P<0.05), the Mankin Score was decreased significantly(P<0.05), and the mRNA and protein levels of DKK1 in cartilaginous tissue were increased(P<0.05), while those of WISP, Wnt1, LRP5 and beta-catenin were decreased in Yougui pill high-dose group and glucosamine sulfate group (P<0.05). Conclusion:Yougui pill has protective effects on the KOA by inhibiting the expressions of WISP, Wnt1, LRP5, beta-catenin and increasing the expression of DKK1 cytokine in the Wnt signaling pathway.

Key words: Yougui pill, osteoarthritis of knee, Wnt signal pathway, protection funtion, rats

Contact Email:editor@cjap.ac.cn
Copyright © 2015 CJAP, All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Beijing Magtech Co. Ltd