Objective Based on the interleukin (IL)-10/Janus kinase (JAK2)/signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway, to explore the effect and mechanism of Yangxue Roujin formula on cartilage damage in rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods New Zealand male rabbits were divided into blank group, KOA model group, Yangxue Roujin formula group (50 mg/kg), celecoxib group (24 mg/kg), and JAK2 activator group (50 mg/kg Yangxue Roujin formula + 0.11 mg/kg AG490), 6 per group. The KOA rabbit model was induced by papain, and the corresponding treatment was given after the model was successfully established. HE staining was applied to observe the pathological changes of cartilage tissue, Mankin score was used for quantitative scoring; transmission electron microscopy was applied to observe the ultrastructure of cartilage tissue; ELISA was applied to measure the levels of serum IL-1β and IL-6; immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of cartilage tissue matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), collagen type II (COl-II) proteins; and Western blot was applied to detect the expression of IL-10/JAK2/STAT3 pathway proteins in cartilage tissue. Results Compared with the blank group, the cartilage tissue lesions in the KOA model group were severe, the Mankin score, the contents of IL-1β and IL-6, and the protein levels of MMP13, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were up-regulated, the protein levels of TGF-β1, COl-II and IL-10 were all down-regulated (P<0.05). Compared with the KOA model group, the pathological damage of the articular cartilage in the Yangxue Roujin recipe group and the celecoxib group recovered obviously, the Mankin score, the contents of IL-1β and IL-6, and the protein levels of MMP13, p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 were down-regulated, the protein levels of TGF-β1, COl-II and IL-10 were all up-regulated (P<0.05). JAK2 activator was able to obviously weaken the effect of Yangxue Roujin formula on KOA model (P<0.05). Conclusion Yangxue Roujin formula may inhibit cartilage injury in KOA rabbits by regulating IL-10/JAK2/STAT3 pathway. |