Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2011, Vol. 15 ›› Issue (50): 9410-9414.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8225.2011.50.025

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Electro-acupuncture treatment inhibits inflammatory reaction and postpones articular cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis

Wu Ming-xia1, Li Xi-hai2, Wu Guang-wen2, Li Li1, Chen Wen-lie3, Liu Xian-xiang2   

  1. 1Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Second Affiliated People’s Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350003, Fujian Province, China
    2Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350003, Fujian Province, China
    3Fujian Integrative Medicine Key Laboratory of Senile Disease, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian Province, China
  • Received:2011-07-05 Revised:2011-10-12 Online:2011-12-10 Published:2011-12-10
  • Contact: Liu Xian-xiang, Doctor, Professor, Fujian Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350003, Fujian Province, China liuxianxiang@163.com
  • About author:Wu Ming-xia☆, Doctor, Chief physician, Professor, Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Second Affiliated People’s Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350003, Fujian Province, China
  • Supported by:

    the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30873277*; Chen Ke-ji Integrative Medicine Development Foundation, No. CKJ2008003* 

PDF

467

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that electro-acupuncture (EA) can effectively alleviate the clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism by which EA treatment inhibits osteoarthritis inflammation and protects the function of articular cartilage.
METHODS: SD rat models of osteoarthritis were established by double knee joint cavity injection of papain. Osteoarthritis rat models were treated with EA at EX-LE4 and EX-LE5 for 5, 15 and 30 minutes per day.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the model group, substance P in blood and interleukin 1, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α, matrix metalloproteinase 3 concentrations in synovial fluid were significantly reduced, leptin in blood and matrix metalloproteinase 1 in synovial fluid were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the degree of cartilage degeneration was significantly alleviated (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) in osteoarthritis rat models after treatment with EA for 15 and 30 minutes per day  (P < 0.05). These results showed that EA can effectively alleviate the inflammatory reaction and postpone articular cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis. 

CLC Number: