中国组织工程研究

中国组织工程研究 ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (35): 9198-9205.doi: 10.12307/2026.466

• 组织构建实验造模 experimental modeling in tissue construction • 上一篇    下一篇

转录组学分析电针改善膝骨关节炎模型大鼠早期滑膜炎症的作用机制

文  幸1，2，3，李萌萌1，2，3，贾飞阳4，屈萌艰1，2，3，孙光华1，2，3，刘  静1，2，3，黄夏荣1，2，3，钟培瑞1，2，3，王金玲1，2，3，周  君1，2，3   

  1. 南华大学附属第一医院，1康复医学中心，2康复医学科，3康复医学实验室，湖南省衡阳市   421001；4南华大学附属南华医院康复医学科，湖南省衡阳市   421001
  • 收稿日期:2025-09-18 修回日期:2026-02-24 出版日期:2026-12-18 发布日期:2026-04-28
  • 通讯作者: 周君，医学博士，博士后，主任医师，教授，博士/博士后导师，南华大学附属第一医院，康复医学中心，康复医学科，康复医学实验室，湖南省衡阳市 421001
  • 作者简介:文幸，女，2000年生，南华大学在读硕士，主要从事呼吸康复、骨科康复的基础及临床研究。
  • 基金资助:
    湖南省自然科学基金项目(2024JJ5361)，项目负责人：周君；湖南省自然科学基金项目(2023JJ30543)，项目负责人：刘静；湖南省自然科学基金项目(2025JJ50662)，项目负责人：黄夏荣；南华大学附属第一医院4310计划(20214310NHYCG07)，项目负责人：周君

Transcriptomic analysis of the mechanism of electroacupuncture in alleviating early synovial inflammation in a rat model of knee osteoarthritisbr#

Wen Xing1, 2, 3, Li Mengmeng1, 2, 3, Jia Feiyang4, Qu Mengjian1, 2, 3, Sun Guanghua1, 2, 3, Liu Jing1, 2, 3, Huang Xiarong1, 2, 3, Zhong Peirui1, 2, 3, #br# Wang Jinling1, 2, 3, Zhou Jun1, 2, 3 #br#   

  1. 1Rehabilitation Center, 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 3Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; 4Department of Rehabilitation, The Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China 
  • Received:2025-09-18 Revised:2026-02-24 Online:2026-12-18 Published:2026-04-28
  • Contact: Zhou Jun, MD, Chief physician, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Rehabilitation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
  • About author:Wen Xing, MS candidate, Rehabilitation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; Laboratory of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation Project, Nos. 2024JJ5361 (to ZJ), 2023JJ30543 (to LJ), and 2025JJ50662 (to HXR); 4310 Program of the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanhua University, No. 20214310NHYCG07 (to ZJ) 

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摘要：



文题释义：
骨关节炎：是一种常见的与年龄相关的疾病，主要表现为关节疼痛、僵硬和功能障碍。目前的治疗方法包括药物治疗、手术、物理治疗等。骨关节炎早期病理特征之一即为滑膜炎症反应的激活，表现为滑膜细胞增生、炎症因子释放增加等病理改变。
转录组学：是指对生物体在特定时间、特定条件下所有RNA分子集合(即转录组)进行系统性研究的学科，主要包括信使RNA(mRNA)以及非编码RNA(如长链非编码RNA、miRNA等)。借助高通量测序技术，转录组学可实现对基因表达水平的定量分析、差异表达基因的筛选、可变剪接事件的识别、转录起始位点和融合基因的预测等。

背景：早期滑膜炎症在膝骨关节炎发生与进展中具有关键作用，已成为骨关节疾病研究与干预的重要方向。电针作为常用的物理干预手段，其对滑膜的作用机制尚缺乏分子层面的系统阐释。结合转录组学技术分析滑膜组织的基因表达谱，有助于揭示电针调控的关键信号通路及靶点，为骨关节炎早期干预提供理论基础与数据支持。
目的：基于转录组学测序技术探讨电针对膝骨关节炎模型大鼠早期滑膜炎症的影响。
方法：24只3月龄雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、模型组与电针组，每组8只。模型组和电针组通过前交叉韧带切断术诱导膝骨关节炎模型，对照组不切断前交叉韧带。造模4周后电针组于大鼠双侧“足三里”“血海”“太溪”“阳陵泉”行电针干预，疏密波3 Hz/15 Hz，电流强度1 mA，每次30 min，1次/d，5 d/周，共干预2周。干预结束后取左侧膝骨关节滑膜进行mRNA测序，右侧膝骨关节进行番红O-固绿染色及Mankin’s评分。
结果与结论：①与对照组相比，模型组大鼠软骨表面粗糙且滑膜细胞排列紊乱，Mankin’s评分升高(P < 0.001)；与模型组相比，电针组大鼠软骨表面较为光滑，滑膜组织炎症浸润减轻，Mankin’s评分降低(P < 0.05)；②在模型组大鼠滑膜组织中表达上调且在电针组大鼠滑膜组织中表达下调的基因有29个，在模型组大鼠滑膜组织中表达下调且在电针组大鼠滑膜组织中表达上调的基因有19个；③基因本体分析显示上述差异基因主要功能富集在MHC蛋白复合物结合、蛋白质同源二聚化活性、BH3结构域结合方面；京都基因与基因组百科全书通路分析显示差异基因主要富集在细胞黏附分子、磷脂酰肌醇3激酶-蛋白激酶B信号传导途径、核因子κB信号途径、过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体信号途径等；④与对照组相比，模型组滑膜组织中Myh9、Hmox1、S100a8 mRNA表达显著升高(P < 0.001，P < 0.001，P < 0.001)，Rack1、Ddit3 mRNA表达显著降低(P < 0.01，P < 0.001)；与模型组相比，电针组滑膜组织中Myh9、Hmox1、S100a8 mRNA表达显著降低(P < 0.05，P < 0.001，P < 0.001)；Ddit3 mRNA表达显著升高(P < 0.001)，Rack1 mRNA表达有升高趋势，但差异无显著性意义(P > 0.05)。实时荧光定量PCR结果与基因测序结果基本一致。结果表明：电针可以显著缓解膝骨关节炎大鼠早期滑膜炎症，可能与抑制滑膜组织Myh9、Hmox1、S100a8表达，促进Rack1、Ddit3表达有关。
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5541-6010 (文幸) 


中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：干细胞；骨髓干细胞；造血干细胞；脂肪干细胞；肿瘤干细胞；胚胎干细胞；脐带脐血干细胞；干细胞诱导；干细胞分化；组织工程

关键词: 电针, 膝骨关节炎, 滑膜炎, 转录组学, 差异表达基因, mRNA测序, 信号通路

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Early synovial inflammation plays a crucial role in the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis and has become a significant focus for research and intervention in joint disorders. Electroacupuncture, as a commonly used physical intervention, lacks a systematic molecular-level explanation of its mechanism in synovial tissue. Analyzing the gene expression profile of synovial tissue using transcriptomic technology helps reveal the key signaling pathways and targets regulated by electroacupuncture, providing a theoretical basis and data support for early intervention in osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture on early synovial inflammation in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis based on transcriptomic sequencing technology.
METHODS: Twenty-four 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, and an electroacupuncture group, with eight rats in each group. The model group and electroacupuncture group underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection to induce the knee osteoarthritis model, while the control group did not. Four weeks after modeling, the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture at bilateral “Zusanli” (ST 36), “Xuehai” (SP 10), “Taixi” (KI 3), and “Yanglingquan” (GB 34). The parameters were: sparse-dense wave at 3 Hz/15 Hz, current intensity of 
1 mA, 30 minutes per session, once daily, 5 days per week, for a total of 2 weeks. After the intervention, the synovium of the left knee joint was collected for mRNA sequencing, and the right knee joint was subjected to safranin O-fast green staining and Mankin’s scoring.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the control group, the model group showed rough cartilage surfaces and disordered synovial cell arrangement, with increased Mankin's scores (P < 0.001). Compared with the model group, the electroacupuncture group exhibited smoother cartilage surfaces, reduced inflammatory infiltration in synovial tissue, and decreased Mankin’s scores (P < 0.05). (2) There were 29 genes upregulated in the synovial tissue of the model group and downregulated in the electroacupuncture group, and 19 genes downregulated in the model group and upregulated in the electroacupuncture group. (3) Gene Ontology analysis indicated that the main functions of these differentially expressed genes were enriched in MHC protein complex binding, protein homodimerization activity, and BH3 domain binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis showed that the differentially expressed genes were primarily enriched in cell adhesion molecules, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway, the nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway, and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling pathway. (4) Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of Myh9, Hmox1, and S100a8 in synovial tissue was significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001), while the mRNA expression of Rack1 and Ddit3 was significantly decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.001). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression of Myh9, Hmox1, and S100a8 in synovial tissue was significantly decreased in the electroacupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.001, P < 0.001), while Ddit3 mRNA expression was significantly increased (P < 0.001), and Rack1 mRNA expression showed an increasing trend, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Real-time quantitative PCR results were largely consistent with the gene sequencing results. These findings indicate that electroacupuncture can significantly alleviate early synovial inflammation in rats with knee osteoarthritis, which may be related to inhibiting the expression of Myh9, Hmox1, and S100a8 and promoting the expression of Rack1 and Ddit3 in synovial tissue.

Key words: electroacupuncture, knee osteoarthritis, synovitis, transcriptomics, differentially expressed genes, mRNA sequencing, signaling pathways

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