| Objective To analyze the effect of Yougui Pill on TGF - β 1 / Smads signaling pathway in rats with osteoarthritis. Methods 64 adult SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups with 15 rats in each group.The normal group did not do any treatment; the model group, Yougui Pill group and inhibitor group established knee osteoarthritis model by using the classic huith method. After 6 weeks of modeling, Yougui Pill group was given 20g / (kg · d) Yougui Pill; the inhibitor group was given 100 μ g / (kg · d) SB431542 intraperitoneally and 20g / (kg · d) Yougui Pill; the model group was given the same dose of normal saline for 8 consecutive weeks.24 hours after the last administration, articular cartilage tissue was taken and pathological sections were made to observe the pathological changes of cartilage. The concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF - α) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) in cartilage tissue were detected by ELISA method. The positive expression of type II collagen and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) in cartilage tissue were observed by immunohistochemistry. TGF - β 1, Smad2 and Smad3 in cartilage tissue were detected by RT-PCR The expression of TGF - β 1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 in cartilage were detected by Western blot. Results Compared with the model group, the Mankin score of cartilage tissue in the inhibitor group was decreased (P < 0.05), the concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1 β in cartilage tissue were decreased (P < 0.05), the positive expression of type II collagen was increased (P < 0.05), the positive expression of MMP-13 was decreased (P < 0.05), the mRNA expression of TGF - β 1, Smad2 and Smad3 was increased (P < 0.05), and the protein expressions of TGF - β 1, p-Smad2 and p-smad3 were increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the inhibitor group, the Mankin score of cartilage tissue in Yougui Pill group was decreased (P < 0.05), the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-1 β in cartilage tissue was decreased (P < 0.05), the positive expression of type II collagen was increased (P < 0.05), the positive expression of MMP-13 was decreased (P < 0.05), the mRNA expression of TGF - β 1, Smad2 and Smad3 was increased (P < 0.05), and the protein expressions of TGF - β 1, p-Smad2 and p-smad3 were increased (P < 0.05). Conclusion Yougui Pill has protective effect on cartilage tissue of osteoarthritis rats, and its mechanism may be related to TGF - β 1 / Smads signaling pathway. |