Electroacupuncture inhibits cartilage and subchondral bone degeneration in knee osteoarthritis model rats by activating inflammation and Beclin-1 expression

Guang-hua Sun, Jun Zhou, Qi Wu, Xiarong Huang
Purpose:

To observe the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture on osteoarthritis by detecting the expression of inflammatory factors and autophagy-related gene Beclin-1 in cartilage of osteoarthritis model rats.

Methods:

24 3-month-old female SD rats were randomly divided into control, model and electro-acupuncture（EA） groups(N=8, in each group). The model group and the EA group were given anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and the control group was only given knee joint incision and suture. Ea (3Hz/15 Hz, 1mA) was applied for 30min, once a day, 5 times a week for 12 weeks. The control group and the model group were not given any treatment. At the end of treatment, the serum levels of interleukin (IL-1β and IL-6） were detected by Elisa. Safranin staining and Mankin's score were used to evaluate the cartilage condition. RT-PCR was used to detect the relative expression of IL-1β, Caspase-1, Beclin 1, and PI3K/AKT. Micro-CT was used to detect the subchondral bone.

Results:

Comparison with the control group，the content of IL-1β in the model group was lower, and IL-6 was higher (both P>0.05). The serum levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the EA group were higher than those in the model group (P>0.05). Micro-CT of subchondral bone showed that the bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular number (Tb.N) in the EA group were higher than those in the model group (P>0.05), and the separation of trabecular bone (Tb.Sp) was lower than that in the model group (P>0.05). Tb.Th in the model group was lower and Tb.Sp was higher than that in the control group (P0.05). Compare with the model gourp, the Mankin's score in electroacupuncture group was higher(P0.05). RT-PCR results showed that the relative expression of Beclin1 in the EA group was higher than that in the model group (P0.05). The relative expression levels of PI3K, AKT and caspase-1 in the model group were lower than those in the control group, but the EA group was higher than the model group (P0.05). The relative expression of IL-1β in the EA treatment group was higher than that in the model group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion(s):

EA treatment may improve osteoarthritis by enhancing low-grade inflammation in the joint and activating autophagy of chondrocytes, and inhibiting cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone osteoporosis in osteoarthritis model rats through PI3K/ AKT pathway.

Implications:

This paper provides an exact theoretical basis for the further study of the mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treatment of KOA.

Funding acknowledgements:
This project was supported by the Youth Program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81804155).
Keywords:
Electroacupuncture
Osteoarthritis
Beclin-1
Primary topic:
Basic science including molecular and cellular health
Second topic:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of University of South China.
Provide the ethics approval number:
20160220
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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