title: Herb formula "Fufangqishe-Pill" prevents upright posture-induced intervertebral disc degeneration at the lumbar in rats.
abstract: Degeneration of the lumbar spine plays an important role in most chronic low back pain. Prevention of lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is therefore a high research priority. Both our previous multicenter clinical trials and pharmacological research showed that Fufangqishe-Pill (FFQSP), a newly patented traditional Chinese medicine, could effectively relieve the symptoms of neck pain and prevent cervical degeneration. To clarify the effect of FFQSP on lumbar IVD degeneration, we applied a lumbar IVD degeneration rat model induced by prolonged upright posture. Pretreatment of FFQSP for one month prevented the histological changes indicating IVD disorganization; increased type II-collagen level, decreased type X-collagen protein level, and increased Col2alpha1 mRNA expression at all time points; and decreased Col10alpha1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, MMP13, and Interleukin (IL)-1beta mRNA expression induced by upright posture for 7 and 9 months. These results suggest that FFQSP prevents lumbar IVD degeneration induced by upright posture. FFQSP is a promising medicine for lumbar IVD degeneration disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Qian-Qian
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Zhi-Jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Chen-Guang
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D024043:Collagen Type II; D024121:Collagen Type X; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; C551660:fufangqishe-pill; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3