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Electroacupuncture Delays Cartilage Degeneration by Modulating Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To illustrate the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

Twenty-seven six-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were allocated into three groups in accordance with a random number table: normal group (no surgery-induced OA; without treatment), model group (surgery-induced OA; without treatment) and EA group [surgery-induced OA; received treatment with EA at acupoints Dubi (ST 35) and Neixiyan (EX-LE 5), 30 min twice a day]. After eight consecutive weeks of treatment, the histopathological alterations in cartilage were observed using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, cartilage degeneration was evaluated by modified Mankin’s score principles, the synovial fluid concentration of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the protein expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-3, IκB kinase-β (IKK-β), nuclear factor of α light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor α (IκB-α) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 were quantified by Western blot analysis.

Results

EA treatment significantly improved cartilage structure arrangement and reduced cellular degeneration. The IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and MMP-3 of synovial fluid in the EA-treated group were significantly decreased compared with the model group (all P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MMP-3, IKK-β and NF-κB p65 protein expressions in cartilage of EA-treated group were significantly decreased (all P<0.01), whereas IκB-α expression was significantly up-regulated (P<0.01).

Conclusion

EA treatment may delay cartilage degeneration by down-regulating inflammatory factors through NF-κB signaling pathway, which may, in part, explain its clinical efficacy in the treatment of knee OA.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Guang-wen Wu, Jun Chen, Yun-mei Huang, Cai-bin Pan, Wen-lie Chen & Xian-xiang Liu

  2. Fujian Xiangxing Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., Ningde, Fujian Province, 352300, China

    Shi-mao Zhang

  3. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fuzhou, 350122, China

    Wei Lin

  4. Department of Acupuncture, Second Affiliated People’s Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350003, China

    Ming-xia Wu

Authors
  1. Guang-wen Wu
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  2. Jun Chen
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  3. Yun-mei Huang
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  4. Cai-bin Pan
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  5. Wen-lie Chen
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  6. Shi-mao Zhang
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  7. Wei Lin
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  8. Xian-xiang Liu
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  9. Ming-xia Wu
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Contributions

Liu XX and Wu MX were in responsible for designing the project proposal and managing the progress. Wu GW was in charge of data analysis, and drafted this paper. Lin W revised the manuscript. Chen J was responsible for data collection in each experiment. Huang YM, Pan CB, Chen WL and Zhang SM performed the experiments.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ming-xia Wu.

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The authors declare no financial or commercial conflict of interest.

Additional information

Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81373719), Project of Fujian Provincial Development and Reform Commission (No. 2014-514), Major Project of Fujian Provincial Department of Science and Technology Agency (No. 2013Y4003)

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Wu, Gw., Chen, J., Huang, Ym. et al. Electroacupuncture Delays Cartilage Degeneration by Modulating Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling Pathway. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 25, 677–683 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-018-2916-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-018-2916-8

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