| Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of moxibustion on rabbit knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and further explore its potential mechanism based on Wnt/ β-catenin (catenin) signal pathway. Methods In this study, 4% papain was used to establish rabbit knee osteoarthritis model. The pathological changes of cartilage was observed by HE and safranine O-solid green staining, and the levels of IL-8 in serum, MMP-3 and MMP-13 in cartilage were detected by ELISA. The expression of key Wnt3a, β-catenin protein and mRNA in Wnt/ β-catenin pathway were detected by RT-PCR and WB. Results (1) Compared with the control group, the injury of cartilage tissue in the model group was more severe, the levels of IL-8 in serum , MMP-3 and MMP-13 in cartilage were significantly increased (P<0.001), The mRNA and protein expression levels of Wnt3a (P<0.01, P<0.05) and β-catenin(P<0.001, P<0.01) in cartilage were increased.（2）Compared with the model group, the cartilage injury in the moxibustion group was significantly alleviated, Moxibustion could reduce the levels of IL-8 in serum (P < 0.05), MMP-3 and MMP-13 in cartilage (all P< 0.001), and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Wnt3a(P<0.01, P<0.05) and β-catenin(all P<0.05) in cartilage were decreased. Conclusion Moxibustion may improve the pathological changes of rabbit articular cartilage by regulating Wnt/ β-catenin signal pathway. |