Effects of sinew-regulating bone-setting manipulations on chondrocytes, IL-1β and NO in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of sinew-regulating bone-setting manipulations for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model rabbits and its impacts on the chondrocyte apoptosis rate and the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and nitric oxide (NO). Methods: According to the random number table method, 30 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into a normal group (n=9) and a modeling group (n=21). Rabbits in the modeling group were used to establish KOA models with the modified Hulth method. At the 8th week, three rabbits were sacrificed to verify the model and the remaining 18 rabbits were randomly divided into a model group (n=9) and an intervention group (n=9). Rabbits in the normal group and model group were bred routinely without any intervention. Rabbits in the intervention group were treated with the sinew-regulating bone-setting manipulations, 10 min/time, once every other day for a total of 20 times. The Lequesne MG knee function rating was used to evaluate the behavioral differences of the rabbits in each group. The Pelletier score was used to evaluate the general changes of the rabbits. The Mankin score was used to evaluate the pathology of knee cartilages. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nitrate reductase methods were used to determine the levels of IL-1β and NO in serum and synovial fluid of each group, respectively. In situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick and labeling method was used to determine the apoptosis of chondrocytes in each group. Results: Compared with the normal group, the scores of Lequesne MG, Pelletier and Mankin, and the levels of IL-1β and NO in the model group were increased (P<0.05), which indirectly indicated the success of the model. Compared with the model group, the scores of Lequesne MG, Pelletier and Mankin, IL-1β and NO levels, and chondrocyte apoptosis rate of the intervention group were decreased, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: The sinew-regulating bone-setting manipulations can reduce the levels of IL-1β, NO, and chondrocyte apoptosis rate, and delay the articular cartilage degeneration, therefore, having a good therapeutic effect on KOA.