[Effects of warming-needle therapy on gene expression pathways in the patient with knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of warming-needle therapy in treatment of knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome.


METHODS
Eight cases of knee osteoarthritis of deficiency-cold syndrome were selected and treated with warming-needle therapy at Guanyuan (CV 4), Qihai (CV 6) , Zosanli (ST 36), etc.. The gene expression profiles before and after treatment in 4 cases who showed better therapeutic effect were compared. Taking ratio < 0.5 or ratio > 2.0 as differentially expression gene and obtaining differentially expression pathway (P < 0.5, n>3) by http://www. DAVID 2006.


RESULTS
Two cases were clinically cured, 4 cases were markedly effective, 1 case was effective and 1 case was ineffective. With help of the microarray, 449 differentially expression genes, and 10 differentially expression pathways were obtained including 2 energy metabolism pathways (oxidative phosphorylation, ATP synthetase), 4 cell signal transduction pathways (insulin signal pathway, Toll-like receptor signal pathway, JAK-STAT signal pathway, and MAPK signal pathway) and cell apoptosis pathway.


CONCLUSIONS
Warming-needle therapy is an effective therapy for knee osteoarthritis with deficiency-cold syndrome , which is possibly involved in the control and regulation of many gene expression by various signal transduction pathways.
Yang
Li-ping
LP
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Henan College of TCM, Zhengzhou, China. yangliping66@gmail.com
Wang
Ming-chen
MC
Liu
Wang-gen
WG
Wang
Mi-qu
MQ
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / Q000235:genetics; D009339:Needles; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D016711:Yang Deficiency / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
C507779:MYD88 protein, human; D053594:Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D053612:Janus Kinases