[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe on expressions of aggrecan and type X collagen mRNAs in cells from degenerated human intervertebral discs].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of serum containing Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of aggrecan and type X collagen mRNAs of the degenerated intervertebral disc cells in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy.


METHODS
Six inpatients diagnosed as cervical spondylotic myelopathy and undergoing cervical decompression and fusion surgery to remove the degenerated disc tissue were enrolled in this study. Primary intervertebral disc cells were isolated using small tissue mass method. Serum containing Yiqi Huayu Bushen recipe were obtained after SD rats were fed with Yiqi Huayu Bushen recipe for 3 days. MTT method was used to detect proliferation of the first-passage cells isolated from degenerated intervertebral discs and growth curve was drawn. In the following tests, the first-passage cells were cultured with the sera containing drugs and sodium chloride (NaCl), respectively. Proliferation of intervertebral disc cells was detected by MTT method and expressions of aggrecan and type X collagen mRNAs were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The growth curve of the first-passage cells of the degenerated intervertebral discs showed that the time of cell proliferation peak was the sixth day. Compared with the same concentrations of NaCl solution, serum containing Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe at 5%, 10% and 20% promoted cell proliferation and expression of aggrecan mRNA and decreased expression of type X collagen mRNA (P<0.01). 10% serum containing Yiqi Huayu Bushen recipe was more effective than 5% and 20%.


CONCLUSIONS
Yiqi Huayu Bushen Recipe inhibits degeneration of the intervertebral disc cells by regulating collagen and proteoglycan expressions.
Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Ju-bao
JB
Li
Hong-yun
HY
Zhao
Yong-jian
YJ
Zhao
Quan
Q
Zhou
Ning
N
Li
Peng
P
Xu
Qi
Q
Shi
Yong-jun
YJ
Wang
D000328:Adult; D053674:Aggrecans / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology; D024121:Collagen Type X / Q000378:metabolism*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D055959:Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D053674:Aggrecans; D024121:Collagen Type X; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C528244:yiqi huayu bushen