Study on the improvement effects and mechanism of proanthocyanidins on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head in rabbits
- VernacularTitle:原花青素对兔激素性股骨头坏死的改善作用及机制研究
- Author:
Chunli WU
1
;
Liting LIU
2
;
Xuting ZHAO
2
;
Ruifen SUN
2
;
Wenxuan WANG
3
Author Information
1. Dept. of Vascular Surgery,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University,Hohhot 010010,China
2. Dept. of Orthopedics,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University,Hohhot 010010,China
3. Area A,Trauma Surgery Center,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University,Hohhot 010010,China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
proanthocyanidins;
steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head;
RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway
- From:
China Pharmacy
2025;36(20):2519-2524
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To study the improvement effects and mechanism of proanthocyanidins (PACs) on steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (SONFH) in rabbits based on the receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1)/RIPK3/mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL) signaling pathway. METHODS SONFH model in rabbits was induced by injecting Escherichia coli endotoxin+methylprednisolone. The successfully modeled rabbits were randomly divided into Model group (normal saline), low-dose PACs group (PACs-L group, 11 mg/kg), high-dose PACs group (PACs-H group, 22 mg/kg), high-dose PACs+ RIPK1 activator (rRIPK1) group (PACs-H+rRIPK1 group, 22 mg/kg PACs+4 μg/kg rRIPK1), along with a control group (normal saline), with 6 rabbits in each group. Each administration group was given relevant medicine once a day intragastrically/via injection, for 4 consecutive weeks. After the last administration, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rabbit serum were measured. The changes in the microstructure of rabbit femurs, including bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) were examined. The histopathological features of rabbit femoral tissues were observed, and the apoptotic status of cells within the rabbit femoral tissues was detected. The mRNA expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) in rabbit femoral tissues were determined. The expressions of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway-related proteins in femoral tissues were detected. RESULTS Compared with the Control group, serum contents of TNF-α and IL-6, Tb.Sp, empty bone cavity rate, cell apoptosis rate, phosphorylation levels of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL in femoral tissue were significantly increased in the Model group (P<0.05). BMD, Tb.Th, Tb.N, as well as the mRNA expression of VEGF and BMP2, along with protein expression of caspase-8, in the femoral tissues were all decreased (P<0.05). The bone cells in the femoral tissue were unevenly distributed, and the trabeculae were arranged sparsely. Compared with the Model group, the aforementioned quantitative indicators (P<0.05) and pathological changes in all dosage groups of PACs showed significant improvements. Compared with the PACs-H group, the aforementioned quantitative indicators (P<0.05) and pathological changes in the PACs-H+rRIPK1 group showed significant reversal. CONCLUSIONS PACs can ameliorate SONFH in rabbits, and its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the activation of the RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL signaling pathway, suppression of apoptosis in femoral tissue cells, and promotion of angiogenesis.