The effect of short needling method on Sox9, VEGF and ColⅩ expressions in cartilage cells of rabbit knee osteoarthritis

  OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of short spines on the sex-determining region (Sox9), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and type X collagen (ColⅩ) expression of articular chondrocytes of rabbit knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The mechanism of action for the treatment of KOA.

  Methods: 40 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the normal group (group N) with 10 rabbits and 30 model groups. The model models were subjected to Hulth surgery to replicate the knee osteoarthritis model, and the model was evaluated by X-ray. After successful modeling, they were randomly divided into control group (M group), short acupuncture group (CN group) and ordinary acupuncture group (NTN group). Treatment was started 6 weeks after surgery. No treatment was given to M group, CN group and NTN group Take the left knee joint unilateral Zusanli, inner and outer knee eyes, Liangqiu and Yinlingquan points, and retain the needles for 20 minutes, 1 time/d, for a course of 5 days, a total of 4 courses, which are randomly selected before and after treatment The behavioral changes of New Zealand rabbits in each group were observed; the cartilage gross morphology and histological score were observed after the experiment; the expression of Sox9 and ColⅩ protein was detected by Westem-Blot method; the expression of VEGF and ColⅩ protein was detected by immunohistochemistry; Sox9 was detected by RT-PCR And VEGFmRNA expression.

  Results: The behavioral and cartilage observations of the rabbits in the M, CN, and NTN groups changed significantly before and after the treatment; HE staining showed that the cartilage tissue damage in the CN group and the NTN group was reduced and there was a tendency to repair; N group, M group, CN group There were statistically significant differences in cartilage Mankin scores between group and NTN group (P<0.01); compared with group M, Sox9 protein and mRNA expression increased, VEFG protein and mRNA expression decreased, and ColⅩ protein expression decreased in CN group and NTN group (P<0.01 ); The difference between CN group and NTN group was statistically significant (P<0.01).

  Conclusion: The short needling method can effectively treat KOA, and its mechanism of action may be to increase the content of chondrocytes Sox9, reduce the expression of VEGF and ColⅩ, and inhibit mast cell differentiation, thereby maintaining the normal phenotype of chondrocytes and repairing cartilage.