Xia Wei, Lei Liu, Wen-Xiu Duan, Fan Zhang, Qi Shu, Qian-Yi Wang, Zi-Jian Wu, Rong-Lin Cai, Ling Hu
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objectives: To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Zusanli "(ST36) on the plasma amino acid metabolism in rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), and to explore the amino acid metabolism mechanism of moxibustion in repairing cartilage injury in KOA.
Methods: A total of 30 SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model and moxibustion groups, with 10 rats in each group. Rats in the model and moxibustion groups were injected with the mixture of L-cysteine and papain into bilateral knee joint cavity to make the KOA model. The moxibustion group received moxibustion at bilateral ST36 for 30 min, once daily for 30 days. At the end of the experiment, the swelling degree of knee joint was calculated, the mechanical pain threshold was measured by the Von Frey filament, the cartilage tissue injury was observed by HE staining, the matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) content in the synovial tissue was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the differential amino acid metabolites in plasma were detected and screened by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
Results: Compared with the normal group, the model group showed irregular cartilage surface, decreased number of chondrocytes, uneven distribution, and local clusters of chondrocytes;the contour of the tide line was blurred. The degree of joint swelling in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.01), the mechanical pain threshold was lower (P<0.01), and the content of MMP-13 in synovial tissue was higher (P<0.01). The contents of proline and tryptophan in the model group were down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the cartilage tissue damage and knee joint swelling were decreased(P<0.05), mechanical pain threshold was increased(P<0.05), MMP-13 content in synovial tissue and levels of glutamate and histidine expression were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05).
Conclusions: Moxibustion at ST36 significantly alleviated arthritis-related swelling and pain in KOA model rats, attenuated cartilage damage, and regulated levels of certain plasma amino acid metabolites. Moxibustion may regulate KOA cartilage synthesis and degradation through amino acid metabolic pathways such as proline, tryptophan, glutamate and histidine, exerting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and protection of cartilage injury effects.
期刊介绍:
Acupuncture Research was founded in 1976. It is an acupuncture academic journal supervised by the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, co-sponsored by the Institute of Acupuncture of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and the Chinese Acupuncture Association. This journal is characterized by "basic experimental research as the main focus, taking into account clinical research and reporting". It is the only journal in my country that focuses on reporting the mechanism of action of acupuncture.
The journal has been changed to a monthly journal since 2018, published on the 25th of each month, and printed in full color. The manuscript acceptance rate is about 10%, and provincial and above funded projects account for about 80% of the total published papers, reflecting the latest scientific research results in the acupuncture field and has a high academic level. Main columns: mechanism discussion, clinical research, acupuncture anesthesia, meridians and acupoints, theoretical discussion, ideas and methods, literature research, etc.