Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Research has demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) gene expression alone can result in degenerative change in joint and develop into osteoarthritis (OA). The treatment on OA of traditional Chinese medicine may be related to decreasing or inhibiting the expression of MMP-13.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate pathologic MMP-13 expression during the incidence of OA and the intervention effects by traditional Chinese medicine.
METHODS: Eighteen female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: blank control group, model group and herbs group (OA group treated with traditional Chinese medicine). The right anterior curciate ligament and medial collateral ligament was exposed and sectioned, and the SD rats’ knee joint osteoarthritis model was set up. Rats in the herbs group were treated with tonifying kidney recipes at 4 weeks post-operation for 3 successive months. Total MMP-13 mRNA expression in normal and osteoarthritic cartilage was measured by real-time quantitative PCR at 8, 12 and 16 weeks post-operation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No obvious MMP-13 mRNA expression was found in normal rats’ knee joint; MMP-13 mRNA expression in OA joint cartilage was found and increased gradually with time prolonged (P < 0.05). In SD rats treated with tonifying kidney recipes, MMP-13 mRNA expression in joint cartilage was decreased gradually (P < 0.05). Accordingly, obvious high MMP-13 expression may appear during the incidence of OA; Traditional Chinese medicine may change the MMP-13 expression by activating or inhibiting upstream MMP-13 signal.