Effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and interleukin-1β in articular cartilage during the development of knee osteoarthritis caused by immobilization in rabbits

Objective To investigate the effects of warming-needle acupuncture on the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis induced by immobilization in rabbits. Methods A total of 30 adult male Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned into three groups by random number table method: a normal group, a model group and a treatment group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Knee osteoarthritis was induced by 6 weeks of immobilization. The rabbits in the treatment group received warming-needle acupuncture after modeling at points of “Neixiyan” (EX-LE4), “Dubi” (ST35), “Zusanli” (ST36) and “Yanglingquan” (GB34) for 4 weeks. The level of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the articular cartilage of the knee were determined with radioimmunological assay. Results There were significant difference in the levels of MMP-1(0.16 ± 0.02 ng/mg, 0.37 ± 0.02 ng/mg, and 0.28 ± 0.03 ng/mg; F=258.251) and IL-1β (0.21 ± 0.01 pg/mg, 0.34 ± 0.02 pg/mg, and 0.31 ± 0.04 pg/mg; F=127.112) among the normal group, model group and treatment group. The levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β both in the model group and treatment group were significant higher than those in the normal group (all P<0.01), while the levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the treatment group were significant lower than those in the model group (all P<0.01). Conclusion Warming-needle acupuncture can effectively reduced the levels of MMP-1 and IL-1β in the articular cartilage in knee osteoarthritis induced by immobilization in rabbits. Key words: Osteoarthritis, knee; Matrix metalloproteinase 1; Interleukin-1β; Acupuncture-moxibustion; Cartilage; Rabbits