Abstract：Objective: To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on oxidative damage of cartilage tissue and SIRT1/NRF2/HO-1 pathway in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) rats. Methods: A rat model of knee osteoarthritis was constructed, and successfully modeled rats were stochastically grouped into model group (KOA group), electroacupuncture group (EA group), and electroacupuncture+pathway inhibitor group (EA+EX527 group), each with 12. Additionally, 12 healthy normal rats were made the blank control group (Control group). Rats in each group were subjected to Lequesne scoring. ELISA was used to detect inflammatory markers in joint fluid and oxidative stress markers in cartilage tissue. DCFH-DA method was used to test ROS in cartilage tissue. HE staining was performed to observe the pathological morphology of cartilage. TUNEL staining was performed to test chondrocyte apoptosis. Immunohistochemistry was used to test cartilage injury related proteins. Western blot was performed to detect SIRT1/NRF2/HO-1 pathway related proteins. Results: The knee joint cartilage injury in the KOA group was more severe than that in the Control group, with abnormal morphological structure, damaged cartilage membrane, blurred adhesive lines, sparse and disordered arrangement of chondrocytes, the Lequesne score, IL-6, TNF-α, ROS fluorescence intensity, MDA, apoptosis rate, C-caspase-9, C-caspase-3, MMP3, and MMP13 raised, while the SOD and GSH-Px activities, SIRT1, Keap1, NRF2, and HO-1 reduced (P<0.05). The knee cartilage injury in the EA group improved compared to the KOA group, with a relatively normal morphology and structure, the cartilage surface was relatively smooth, and the chondrocytes were arranged neatly, the Lequesne score, IL-6, TNF-α, ROS fluorescence intensity, MDA, apoptosis rate, C-caspase-9, C-caspase-3, MMP3, and MMP13 reduced, while the SOD and GSH-Px activities, SIRT1, Keap1, NRF2, and HO-1 raised (P<0.05). The knee cartilage injury in the EA+EX527 group was more severe than that in the EA group, the Lequesne score, IL-6, TNF-α, ROS fluorescence intensity, MDA, apoptosis rate, C-caspase-9, C-caspase-3, MMP3, and MMP13 raised, while the SOD and GSH-Px activities, SIRT1, Keap1, NRF2, and HO-1 reduced (P<0.05). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture can improve oxidative damage in cartilage tissue of KOA rats, which is related to the activation of SIRT-1-Nrf2-HO-1 signaling pathway.
张尹, 马旭, 金墨林. 电针通过SIRT1/NRF2/HO-1通路对膝骨关节炎大鼠软骨组织氧化损伤机制的研究[J]. 河北医学, 2025, 31(10): 1613-1619.
ZHANG Yin, et al. Study on the Mechanism of Oxidative Damage of Cartilage Tissue in Knee Osteoarthritis Rats by Electroacupuncture through the SIRT1/NRF2/HO-1 Pathway. HeBei Med, 2025, 31(10): 1613-1619.
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2025, Vol. 31 
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