Objective To investigate the mechanism of Bushen Huoxue formula (BSHX) in inhibiting apoptosis of chondrocytes in rats with osteoarthritis. Methods CHON-001 cells were randomly grouped into blank group, LPS group (100 ng/mL), BSHX group (100 ng/mL LPS + 20% BSHX medicated serum), BSHX+DMSO group (100 ng/mL LPS + 20% BSHX medicated serum + 0.1% DMSO), and BSHX+Derivative 83 group (100 ng/mL LPS + 20% BSHX medicated serum + 120 μmol/L Derivative 83). The proliferation and apoptosis of cells, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in the supernatant in each group were analyzed. The rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, and BSHX group. The serum levels of nitric oxide synthase (INOS), IL-6, and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), and the mRNA expression levels of Collage II, Aggrecan and ADAMTS-5 in cartilage tissue were measured. The expression levels of Cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2, and Wnt3a/β-catenin in the cartilage and cells were analyzed. Results Compared to those in the blank group, the apoptosis rate, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β levels, Cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and p-NF-kB p65/NF-kB p65 protein expressions in the LPS group increased obviously. The OD450 value at 24h and 48h, the positive rate of EdU, and the expression of Bcl-2 decreased obviously (P<0.05). BSHX improved the above indexes in LPS-induced CHON-001 cells (P<0.05). Derivative 83 reversed the protective effect of BSHX on LPS-induced CHON-001 cells (P<0.05). The results of animal experiments showed that compared to those in the sham group, the protein expressions of INOS, IL-6, and COX2, ADAMTS-5 mRNA, Cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and p-NF-kB p65/NF-kB p65 in the model group increased obviously, and the expressions of collage II mRNA, aggrecan mRNA, and Bcl-2 decreased obviously (P<0.05). Compared to those in the model group, the protein expressions of INOS, IL-6, COX2, ADAMTS-5 mRNA, Cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Wnt3a, β-catenin, and p-NF-kB p65/NF-kB p65 decreased obviously in the BSHX group, the expressions of collage II mRNA, aggrecan mRNA and Bcl-2 increased obviously (P<0.05). Conclusion BSHX inhibits chondrocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis rats. |