黄栀理伤贴膏对兔膝骨关节炎软骨组织NF-κB信号通路的影响OA

Objective To investigate the effects of Huangzhi Lishang Plaster on nuclear factor-κB(NF-κB)signaling pathway in cartilage tissue of rabbits with knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods A total of 24 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a blank control group(n=6)and a model establishment group(n=18).The KOA model was established by intra-articular injection of a mixture of papain and L-cysteine in the model group,while the blank group received an equal volume of normal saline.The modeling was verified 4 weeks later.Successfully modeled rabbits were randomly divided into a model group(treated with adhesive plaster application),a Gutong Plaster group(treated with Gu tong Plaster),and a Huangzhi Lishang Plaster group(treated with Huangzhi Lishang Plaster),with five rabbits in each group.The interventions were applied once daily for 8 hours each time,lasting for four consecutive weeks.The general condition of the knee joint was observed,and the Lequesne MG score was used to evaluate the severity of osteoarthritis.The imaging findings of the knee joint and gross observation of knee cartilage were compared.The Pelletier score was used to evaluate the cartilage tissue damage.Serum interleukin-1β(IL-1β)level was measured by ELISA,and the protein expression levels of NF-κB and NF-κB p50 in cartilage tissue were checked by Western blot.Results Comparison of knee joint X-rays among groups showed that varying degrees of degenerative changes were present in the model group,which were alleviated in the Gutong Plaster group and Huangzhi Lishang Plaster group compared with the model group.Gross observation of cartilage indicated structural changes,osteophyte formation,and cartilage damage in the model group,with improvements observed in both treatment groups.Compared with the blank control group,the model group had significantly higher Lequesne MG score,Pelletier score,serum IL-1β level,and protein expression levels of NF-κB and NF-κB p50(P＜0.001).Compared with the model group,the above indexes were all significantly decreased in the Gutong Plaster group and Huangzhi Lishang Plaster groups(P＜0.001).Compared with the Gutong Plaster group,the Huangzhi Lishang Plaster group exhibited further reductions in serum IL-1β level and protein expressions of NF-κB and NF-κB p50(P＜0.001).Conclusion Huangzhi Lishang Plaster may alleviate cartilage damage in KOA by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing the expression of inflammatory factor IL-1β.