Active ingredient combination of Longma formula promotes chondrocyte proliferation via regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
- VernacularTitle:龙马方活性成分配伍通过调控Wnt/β-catenin信号通路促进软骨细胞增殖
- Author:
Zi-han PEI
1
;
Yin-sheng CAO
;
Qi-yao ZHANG
;
Kun JIANG
;
Gong-jin ZHOU
;
Ke-fang DONG
;
Ping WU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Longma formula; active ingredient; bru-cine; lumbrokinase; chondrocyte proliferation; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
- From: Chinese Pharmacological Bulletin 2025;41(9):1776-1782
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
- Abstract: Aim To investigate the promotive effects and mechanisms of the combined use of brucine(Bru)and lumbrokinase(LK),active ingredient derived from Longma formula,in promoting chondrocyte proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.Methods The extracted primary rat chondrocytes were divided in-to the following groups:Control group,Bru,LK alone group,and Bro+LK combination group.The optimal drug concentration and intervention time were deter-mined using CCK-8 assay,followed by cell proliferation validation through EdU and phalloidin staining.The expression levels of collagen Ⅱ,aggrecan and SRY-re-lated high-mobility group box gene 9(SOX9)in chon-drocytes following intervention with the combination of Bru and LK were detected by Western blotting.Addi-tionally,the regulatory effects of these proteins on the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were also investiga-ted.Results The optimal combination concentration of Longma formula active ingredients(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)significantly enhanced chondro-cyte viability compared to control,Bru,or LK alone at 48 h.This combination increased the S-phase ratio,promoted the aggregation of intracellular actin fila-ments,and upregulated the expression of collagen Ⅱ and aggrecan.Furthermore,it activated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,leading to increased SOX9 expres-sion.Conclusions The optimal combination of Bru and LK(Bru 0.025 mg·L-1+LK 5 mg·L-1)de-rived from Longma formula significantly maintains chondrocyte phenotype and promotes cellular prolifera-tion through the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signa-ling pathway,which subsequently upregulates the downstream target SOX9.
