Total Flavonoids from Rhododendron Attenuate Osteoarthritis Cartilage Injury via Regulation of NLRP3/caspase-1-Dependent Pyroptosis
10.13359/j.cnki.gzxbtcm.2025.05.026
- VernacularTitle:杜鹃花总黄酮通过调控NLRP3/caspase-1通路介导的软骨细胞焦亡减轻骨关节炎软骨损伤
- Author:
Chang ZHANG
1
;
Junmao GAO
Author Information
1. 河北以岭医院,河北 石家庄 050091
- Keywords:
total flavonoids of Rhododendron;
osteoarthritis;
cartilage injury;
NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway;
pyroptosis;
inflammation;
rats
- From:
Journal of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2025;42(5):1220-1228
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To observe the improvement effect of total flavonoids from Rhododendron(TFR)on cartilage tissue injury in osteoarthritis rats and its potential mechanism.Methods Wistar rats were randomly divided into the model group,Celecoxib group,TFR low-,medium-and high-dose group,and sham-operated group.Except for the sham-operated group,osteoarthritis models were established in all other groups by a single intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate(MIA).After grouped interventions,the knee joint width and passive range of motion were measured;histopathological morphology of cartilage tissue was observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining with Mankin's scoring;apoptosis in cartilage tissue was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL)assay;protein expression levels of cartilage damage-related proteins collagenⅡ,aggrecan,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9,MMP-13,and NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway proteins NLRP3,apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC),and cleaved caspase-1 were analyzed by Western Blot;caspase-1 activity in cartilage tissue was measured by colorimetric assay;and serum levels of interleukin(IL)-6,tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),IL-18,and IL-1α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results Compared with the sham-operated group,the model group exhibited significant cartilage damage,with markedly increased knee joint width,Mankin's score,caspase-1 activity in cartilage tissue,proportion of TUNEL-positive apoptotic chondrocytes,protein expression levels of MMP-9,MMP-13,NLRP3,ASC,and cleaved caspase-1 in cartilage tissue,and serum levels of IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-18(all P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the passive range of motion and protein expression levels of collagen Ⅱand aggrecan in cartilage tissue were significantly reduced(all P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,the TFR medium-and high-dose group,and Celecoxib group showed alleviated cartilage damage,along with significantly decreased knee joint width,Mankin's score,caspase-1 activity,proportion of TUNEL-positive apoptotic chondrocytes,protein expression levels of MMP-9,MMP-13,NLRP3,ASC,cleaved caspase-1,and serum IL-6,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-18 levels(all P＜0.05).Additionally,the passive range of motion and protein expression levels of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan were significantly increased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion TFR can improve cartilage damage in osteoarthritic rats,and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway-mediated pyroptosis.
