The combined Therapy of Chinese Herbal Fumigation,Massage and Functional Exercise on the mRNA Expressions of MMP-1,MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in Knee Cartilage of Osteoarthritis Rabbits

Objective:To investigate the effect of the three united remedy(passive functional exercise and herb fumigating combining massage) on the expressions of MMPs and TIMP-1 in knee cartilage of osteoarthritis(OA) rabbit.Methods:Eight rabbits were selected randomly from 56 rabbits as control group,and the rest 48 rabbits were made into knee OA models.The model rabbits were then divided into 6 groups: model group,fumigating group,passive functional exercise group,massaging group,Votalin group and three united remedy group.After 4 weeks' treatment,the degenerated cartilages of the rabbits' articular genu were taken and the expressions of MMP-1,MMP-13 and TIMP-1 were measured by RT-PCR.Results:In normal control group,the mRNA expression rates of MMP-1,MMP-13 and were relatively low.The mRNA expression of MMP-1 and MMP-13 significantly increased in model group while TIMP-1 mRNA could not be measured.The expression rates of MMP-1 and MMP-13 remarkably decreased in the 4 treatment groups,and in the three united remedy group,the expressions decreased more significantly(P0.05).The level of TIMP-1 mRNA was extremely low in all treatment groups,and there was no significant difference between each group.Conclusion:Each treatment could inhibit the mRNA expression rates of MMP-1 and MMP-13 in knee cartilage and reduce the cartilage degeneration in different degrees.But they had no effect on TIMP-1 mRNA expression.The united remedy could inhibit MMP-1 and MMP-13 more efficiently than the rest treatments did,illustrating that the three united remedy functions better in inhibiting decomposition of cartilage ECM collagen and reducing the cartilage degeneration than other treatments.One of the mechanisms might be through inhibition of MMP-1 and MMP-13.