BACKGROUND: Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is highly expressed in the degenerated intervertebral disc. The Herbal Compound formula Yaotu Granules for lumbar disc herniation has achieved good clinical results; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.
OBJECTIVE: To explore mechanisms underlying the effects of the drug serum of Yaotu Granules on NF-κB signaling pathway.
METHODS: Eight New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal saline group, low-, middle-, and high-dose drug groups. Normal saline, 10, 20, and 40 mL of water decoction of Yaotu Granules were administered intragastrically in the normal saline, low-, middle-, and high-dose drug groups for 7 days, respectively. The drug serum of Yaotu Granules was prepared using serum samples obtained from the common carotid artery at 2 hours after the last administration. Human nucleus pulposus cells were maintained in DMEM containing 10% (v/v) drug serum for 24 hours.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression levels of interleukin (IL)-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, p-P65, P50, IκB-α (the NF-κB inhibitor), and IκB kinase β (IKK-β) mRNA in human nucleus pulposus cells in three drug serum groups were significantly decreased compared with the normal saline group; in addition, a similar change in the expression levels of p-P65, P50, IκB-α, and IKK-β protein between groups were detected. Noticeably, the expression levels of IL-8, TNF-α, p-P65, P50, IκB-α, and IKK-β mRNA, as well as the expression levels of p-P65, P50, IκB-α, and IKK-β protein were gradually decreased with the increased drug dose. All these results suggest that the drug serum of Yaotu Granules can protect nucleus pulposus cells and delay their degeneration through blocking NF-κB signaling pathway.
中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点：组织构建；骨细胞；软骨细胞；细胞培养；成纤维细胞；血管内皮细胞；骨质疏松；组织工程