艾灸对兔膝骨关节炎软骨组织中Caveolin-1/p38MAPK信号通路蛋白表达的影响

Effect of moxibustion on expression of Caveolin-1/p38 MAPK signal pathway protein in cartilage tissues of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis

目的观察艾灸对兔膝骨关节炎(KOA)关节软骨组织中Caveolin-1/p38丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号通路蛋白表达的影响,探讨艾灸治疗骨关节炎的分子机制。方法取新西兰大耳白兔40只,随机分为对照组、模型组、艾灸组、抑制剂组各10只。除对照组外,其他三组采用关节腔注射木瓜蛋白酶的方法建立KOA模型;对照组及模型组不予治疗,艾灸组取犊鼻穴、足三里穴进行艾灸,抑制剂组关节腔内注射p38阻断剂SB203580。治疗3周后,处死动物,取关节软骨组织,采用Western blotting法检测Caveolin-1、p38 MAPK、p-p38 MAPK蛋白表达。结果模型组、艾灸组、抑制剂组软骨组织中Caveolin-1蛋白相对表达量分别为2.09±0.07、1.45±0.05、1.09±0.07;p38 MAPK蛋白活性(p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK)分别为3.25±0.08、2.52±0.17、2.07±0.14,均高于对照组的1.00±0.11、1.00±0.05(P均<0.05);与模型组比较,艾灸组、抑制剂组软骨组织中Caveolin-1蛋白表达、p38 MAPK蛋白活性降低(P均<0.05);与抑制剂组比较,艾灸组软骨组织中Caveolin-1蛋白表达、p38 MAPK蛋白活性增加(P均<0.05)。结论艾灸治疗后,兔KOA软骨组织中Caveolin-1蛋白表达、p38 MAPK蛋白活性降低;抑制Caveolin-1/p38 MAPK信号通路异常激活可能是艾灸发挥治疗作用的分子机制之一。

Objective To investigate the effect of moxibustion on the expression of Caveolin-1,p38MAPK,and p-p38MAPK in the articular cartilage of knee osteoarthritis(KOA)rabbits.Methods Forty rabbits were randomly divided into the control group,model group,moxibustion group,and blocker group.Except the control group,KOA models were established by injecting papain into articular cavities of rabbits in the other three groups.Moxibustion was carried out at Dubi point and Zusanli point in the moxibustion group,and p38 blocker SB203580 was injected into articular cavities of rabbits in the blocker group.Rabbits were sacrificed after 3 weeks of treatment to obtain the cartilage tissues,while the rabbits in the control group and model group were not treated.The expression levels of Caveolin-1,p38 MAPK,and p38 MAPK were detected by Western blotting.Results The relative expression levels of Caveolin-1 were 2.09±0.07,1.45±0.05,and 1.09±0.07,respectively,and the relative expression levels of p-p38 MAPK/p38 MAPK were 3.25±0.08,2.52±0.17,and 2.07±0.14,respectively,in the model group,moxibustion group and inhibitor group,which were higher than those of the control group(1.00±0.05)(all P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the expression levels of Caveolin-1 protein and p38 MAPK protein activity in the cartilage of the moxibustion group and blocker group decreased(both P<0.05).Compared with the blocker group,the expression levels of Caveolin-1 protein and p38 MAPK protein activity in the cartilage of moxibustion group increased(both P<0.05).Conclusions The expression levels of Caveolin-1 and the activity of p38 MAPK protein decrease in the cartilage of KOA rabbits after moxibustion treatment.Inhibition of abnormal activation of Caveolin-1/p38 MAPK signal pathway may be one of the molecular mechanisms of moxibustion.