ABSTRACT
Objective:To explore the effect of Gubi Decoction on serum related inflammatory factors and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in osteoarthritis model rats. Methods:Seventy SPF rats were randomly divided into the blank group, sham operation group, Glucosamine sulfate group, and the low, medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups. Except the blank group and sham operation group, knee osteoarthritis animal models were prepared by the modified Hulth method in each group. On the 28th day after successful model preparation, the high, medium and low dose Gubi Decoction groups were given Gubi Decoction 24, 12 and 6 g/kg by gavage respectively; glucosamine sulfate group was given glucosamine sulfate tablet suspension 3 g/L by gavage, once a day for 28 days. The levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in serum were detected by ELISA. The gene expressions of PI3K, Akt and mTOR in cartilage tissue were detected by Real-PCR. The protein expressions of PI3K, Akt, p-PI3K, p-Akt and mTOR were detected by Western blot. Results:Compared with the model group, the knee joint diameter[(11.17 ± 1.81) mm, (11.60 ± 1.38) mm, (10.80 ± 1.17) mm vs. (12.57 ± 0.98) mm] of the rats in the glucosamine sulfate group and the medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The content of TNF-α [(111.43 ± 21.98) ng/L, (53.42 ± 13.25) ng/L vs. (157.89 ± 23.60) ng/L], IL-1β [(67.50 ± 18.44) ng/L, (48.22 ± 9.63) ng/L vs. (96.11 ± 14.85) ng/L] in the medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the expression of PI3K (1.87 ± 0.17, 1.24 ± 0.49 vs. 2.19 ± 0.47), Akt (1.50 ± 0.51, 1.10 ± 0.32 vs. 2.68 ± 0.63), and mTOR (1.32 ± 0.54, 1.10 ± 0.33 vs. 2.94 ± 0.55) mRNA in the medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05). The expression of PI3K, Akt, p-PI3K, p-Akt in the low, medium and high dose Gubi Decoction groups significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the expression of mTOR in the medium dose Gubi Decoction group significantly decreased ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Gubi Decoction can significantly reduce the level of inflammatory factors in the serum of osteoarthritis model rats, and its anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects may be related to PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.