Ye JN, Su CG, Jiang YQ, Zhou Y, Sun WX, Zheng XX, Miao JT, Li XY, Zhu J. Effects of acupuncture on cartilage p38MAPK and mitochondrial pathways in animal model of knee osteoarthritis: A systematic evaluation and meta-analysis.
Front Neurosci 2023;
16:1098311. [PMID:
36711149 PMCID:
PMC9875597 DOI:
10.3389/fnins.2022.1098311]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
Most previous studies on acupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) have focused on improving functional efficacy and safety, while related mechanisms have not been systematically reviewed. Acupuncture modulates cytokines to attenuate cartilage extracellular matrix degradation and apoptosis, key to the pathogenesis of KOA, but the mechanisms are complex.
Objectives
The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of acupuncture quantitatively and summarily in animal studies of KOA.
Methods
Nine databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (including Medline), Cochrane library, Scopus, CNKI, Wan Fang, and VIP were searched to retrieve animal studies on acupuncture interventions in KOA published since the inception of the journal. Relevant literature was screened, and information extracted. Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.4 and Stata 17.0 software.
Results
The 35 included studies involved 247 animals, half of which were in acupuncture groups and half in model groups. The mean quality level was 6.7, indicating moderate quality. Meta-analysis showed that acupuncture had the following significant effects on cytokine levels in p38MAPK and mitochondrial pathways: (1) p38MAPK pathway: It significantly inhibits p38MAPK, interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), phosphorylated (p)-p38MAPK, matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), MMP-1, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-5 (ADAMST-5) expression, and significantly increased the expression of collagen II and aggrecan. (2) mitochondrial pathway: It significantly inhibited the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cysteine protease-3 (caspase-3), caspase-9, and Cytochrome-c (Cyt-c). And significantly increased the expression of B cell lymphocytoma-2 (Bcl-2). In addition, acupuncture significantly reduced chondrocyte apoptosis, Mankin's score (a measure of cartilage damage), and improved cartilage morphometric characteristics.
Conclusion
Acupuncture may inhibit cytokine expression in the p38MAPK pathway to attenuate cartilage extracellular matrix degradation, regulate cytokines in the mitochondrial pathway to inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis, and improve cartilage tissue-related phenotypes to delay cartilage degeneration. These findings provide possible explanations for the therapeutic mechanisms and clinical benefits of acupuncture for KOA.
Systematic review registration
https://inplasy.com, identifier INPLASY20 2290125.
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