Effects of galangin on autophagy and apoptosis of chondrocytes in knee osteoarthritis rats
- VernacularTitle:高良姜素对膝关节炎大鼠软骨细胞自噬和凋亡的影响
- Author:
Qing YANG
1
;
Wei HUANG
2
;
Qingyi LIU
3
;
Zhongyu ZHOU
2
Author Information
1. Dept. of Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy，Hubei Maternal and Child Health Hospital，Wuhan 430070，China
2. Dept. of Acupuncture and Moxibustion，Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Wuhan 430070，China
3. Dept. of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Wuhan Qingshan District Metallurgical Street Community Health Service Center，Wuhan 430070，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
galangin;
knee osteoarthritis;
chondrocytes;
autophagy;
apoptosis;
AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway
- From:
China Pharmacy
2025;36(3):312-317
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of galangin （GLA） on autophagy and apoptosis of chondrocytes in knee osteoarthritis （KOA） rats by regulating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）/mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR）/UNC-51-like kinase 1 （ULK1） signaling pathway. METHODS KOA rat model was constructed and separated into model group， L-GLA， M-GLA， H-GLA groups [subcutaneous injection of 100， 200， 400 μg/kg GLA]， GLA+Compound C group [subcutaneous injection of 400 μg/kg GLA+0.2 mg/kg AMPK inhibitor Compound C]， with 10 rats in each group. Additionally， 10 normally fed rats were selected as the sham operation group. After the last medication， the degree of knee joint swelling of rats in each group was detected； the pathology of knee joints in KOA rats was observed. The serum expressions of matrix metalloproteinase 13 （MMP-13） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in KOA rats were detected； the autophagy of chondrocytes in KOA rats was observed； the chondrocyte apoptosis in KOA rats was detected； the phosphorylation of AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway-related proteins in cartilage tissue of knee joint were detected in rats. RESULTS Compared with the sham operation group， the arrangement of articular chondrocytes in the model group was disordered， with nuclear pyknosis and severe fibrosis of the articular cartilage layer， accompanied by a large amount of inflammatory cell infiltration； the degree of joint swelling， the number of autophagic vacuoles and apoptosis rate of chondrocytes， serum levels of MMP-13 and IL-1β， and the phosphorylation of mTOR protein in cartilage tissue of knee joint were all increased significantly （P＜0.05）， while the phosphorylation of AMPK and ULK1 protein were all decreased significantly in cartilage tissue of knee joint （P＜0.05）. Compared with the model group， L- GLA， M-GLA， H-GLA groups showed significant improvement in joint cartilage injury and reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells in rats. The above quantitative indicators were significantly reversed in a dose-dependent manner，except the number of autophagic vacuoles increased significantly （P＜0.05）. Compared with the H-GLA group， the GLA+ Compound C group showed aggravated cartilage tissue of joint cartilage injury and inflammatory cell infiltration in rats， and the above quantitative indicators were reversed significantly （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS GLA can promote autophagy and inhibit apoptosis of chondrocytes in KOA rats， the mechanism of which may be associated with activating AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway.
