RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects of Tuina (Chinese therapeutic massage) in a knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rat model and its influence on proteins associated with the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Methods: A total of 32 specific-pathogen-free grade Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Eight rats were randomly selected as the control group (CG). The remaining 24 rats underwent intra-articular injections with 0.2 mL of 4％ papain to prepare the KOA rat models. After the model was established, the 24 rats were randomly and equally assigned to 3 groups, including a model group (MG), a Tuina group (TG), and a positive medicine group (PMG), with 8 rats in each group. The Lequesne score was applied to evaluate the success of model development. After the model was successfully established, the CG did not receive any intervention, and the TG was treated with local, clockwise annular Rou-Kneading around the knee joint with the thumbs. The pressure in the longitudinal direction was 3 N, and the frequency was designed to be 120-140 times/min for 15 min, followed by flexing the joint 10 times. The PMG was intragastrically administered with celecoxib [24 mg/(kg·bw)] every day. These interventions were performed once a day, 6 d per week, for a total of 4 weeks. After treatment, the Lequesne score was applied again to assess the severity of the KOA in the rats; hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and a mixture of equal volumes of aqueous solutions of safranin O-fast green were used to stain and observe the cartilage morphology and structure; the modified Mankin score was applied to evaluate the pathology; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used to quantify the C-telopeptide fragments of type Ⅱ collagen (CTX-Ⅱ) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP); Western blotting was then applied to quantify Wnt4, β-catenin, matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13), and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) protein expression; immunohistochemistry was conducted to determine the percentage of collagen type X (ColX)-positive cells. Results: The Lequesne score of the TG and PMG was both lower than that of the MG (P<0.01); the HE staining, safranin O-fast green stained morphology and structure, and modified Mankin scores of the TG and the PMG were also better than those in the MG (P<0.01). Compared with the CG, the amounts of CTX-Ⅱ and COMP in the serum were significantly increased (P<0.01); the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, MMP-13, and BMP-2 proteins in the cartilage tissue was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the percentage of ColX-positive chondrocytes was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the MG. In comparison with those in the MG, the amounts of CTX-Ⅱ and COMP were significantly decreased (P<0.01), the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, MMP-13, and BMP-2 proteins was significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the percentage of ColX-positive chondrocytes was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the TG and PMG. Compared with the PMG, the contents of CTX-Ⅱ and COMP and the expression of Wnt4, β-catenin, MMP-13, and BMP-2 proteins were decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01); the percentage of ColX-positive chondrocytes was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the TG. Conclusion: Tuina can relieve the degeneration of KOA, and the mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, the decrease in MMP-13 and BMP-2 protein expression, the reduction in chondrocyte extracellular matrix degradation, and slowing down the terminal cell differentiation.
RESUMO
Resumen: dentro de las displasias óseas hay cuadros clínicos que hacen parte de las denominadas condrodisplasias metafisarias, conocidas también como disostosis metafisarias, las cuales presentan mínimas diferencias entre sí, lo que las hace susceptibles de ser confundidas con otros cuadros clínicos como la acondroplasia y el raquitismo. En este artículo se presenta un caso clínico de condrodisplasiametafisaria tipo Schmid de un paciente de Popayán, Colombia, al igual que algunas consideracionessobre las principales características clínicas, radiológicas, de diagnóstico y tipo de herencia de esta enfermedad. El caso clínico corresponde a un paciente de género masculino de 23 meses de edad, en quien se inician estudios por la presencia de talla baja desproporcionada. Los resultados mostraron coxa vara, genu varo y extremidades cortas, con un fenotipo similar en la madre y el abuelo materno. Las radiografías evidencian la presencia de irregularidad con deshilachamiento de las metáfisis de huesos largos; además, ensanchamiento y esclerosis en las metáfisis proximales de ambos fémur. La meta final es ser confirmado por medio de pruebas genéticas. En conclusión, las condrodisplasias metafisarias, especialmente la tipo Schmid, son enfermedades caracterizadas por talla baja y hallazgos radiológicos especiales, dados principalmente por el compromiso metafisario a nivel de los huesos largos, que en conjunto con las características fenotípicas pueden conducir a la sospecha e identificación de este tipo de patología.
Abstract: between the dysplastic bone pathologies there are some medical conditions that belong to so-called metaphyseal chondrodysplasias, also known as metaphyseal dysostosis. These differ slightly from each other, making them capable of being confused with other medical conditions such as achondroplasia and rickets. This article presents a case of Schmid type metaphyseal chondrodysplasiafrom Popayan, Colombia, as well as some considerations about the main clinical characteristics, radiological, diagnosis, and type of inheritance of this disease. The clinical case corresponds to a male patient, 23 months old, who was studied by the presence of disproportionate short stature. Findings showed coxa vara, genu varus, and short limbs, with similar phenotype to the mother and maternal grandfather. The radiological images showed the presence of irregularity with ®fraying¼ of the metaphysis of long bones, in addition to widening and sclerosis in the proximal metaphysis of both femurs. The ultimate goal is to be confirmed by genetic testing. In conclusion, the metaphyseal chondrodysplasias, especially Schmid type, are diseases characterized by short stature and by special radiological findings, mainly given by the metaphyseal affectation of long bones, which together with the phenotypic characteristics may lead to the suspicion and identification of this disease.Keywords: Schmid type metaphyseal chondrodysplasia, osteochondrodysplasias, collagen type.