[Regulation effects of Gegen Recipe and Guizhi Recipe on expression of IL-1beta, iNOS, TNFalpha, TGFbeta mRNA in degenerated cervical intervertebral disk in rabbits].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of Gegen Recipe and Guizhi Recipe regulating the expression of IL-1beta, iNOS, TNFalpha and TGFbeta mRNA in degenerated intervertebral disk caused by stimulation of wind, cold and damp.


METHODS
Thirty-six rabbits were randomly separated into six groups, viz. control group, stimulation by wind, cold and damp group, head in low-location group, compound model group (head in low-location plus stimulation of wind, cold and damp), Gegen Recipe group and Guizhi Recipe group. The gene expression of IL-1beta, iNOS, TNFalpha and TGFbeta mRNA in degenerated cervical intervertebral disks were assayed by RT-PCR.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, IL-1beta mRNA and iNOS mRNA expression were up-regulated in each model group(P<0.01). Both Gegen Recipe and Guizhi Recipe down-regulated IL-1beta mRNA, iNOS mRNA expression, which had significant differences compared with the stimulation model group(P<0.01 or <0.05). TNFalpha mRNA expression was significantly enhanced in the compound model group compared with the control group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the head in low-location group and the stimulation model group. Gegen Recipe down-regulated TNFalpha mRNA expression compared with the stimulation group(P<0.01),while the effect of Guizhi Recipe was not significant. Compared with the control group, TGFbeta mRNA expression went down in each model group(P<0.01). Gegen Recipe up-regulated TGFbeta mRNA expression(P<0.01), while the effect of Guizhi Recipe on adjusting TGFbeta mRNA was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Stimulation by wind, cold and damp, head in low-location, and compound of both can down-regulate the expressions of IL-1beta, iNOS, TNFalpha mRNA, and up-regulate the expression of TGFbeta mRNA. These researches certify that these factors take part in the progression of intervertebral disk degeneration. IL-1beta, iNOS, TNFalpha accelerate the degeneration and TGFbeta defers the degeneration. Gegen Recipe down-regulates the expression of TNFalpha mRNA and up-regulates the expression of TGFbeta mRNA. The effect on regulating the cell factors expressions by Guizhi Recipe is lower than that of Gegen Recipe.
Wang
Yong-Jun
YJ
Institute of Spinal Disease, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Shi
Qi
Q
Zhou
Chong-Jian
CJ
Hou
Bao-Xing
BX
Liu
Mei
M
Mo
Wen
W
D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II