title: Duhuo Jisheng decoction treatment inhibits the sodium nitroprussiate‑induced apoptosis of chondrocytes through the mitochondrial‑dependent signaling pathway.
abstract: Chondrocyte apoptosis activated by the mitochondrial-dependent signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the cartilage degeneration of osteoarthritis. Duhuo Jisheng decoction (DHJSD), a herbal formula from traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used for treating osteoarthritis (OA). However, the molecular mechanisms behind the therapeutic effect of DHJSD remain to be elucidated. In the present study, the effects of DHJSD on the mitochondrial-dependent signaling pathway in sodium nitroprussiate (SNP)-induced chondrocyte apoptosis were investigated. Chondrocytes, from the knee articular cartilage of Sprague Dawley rats, were identified by type II collagen immunohistochemistry. The chondrocytes, stimulated with or without SNP to induce apoptosis, were treated by DHJSD for various concentrations and times. The viability of SNP-induced chondrocytes treated with DHJSD was enhanced compared to SNP-induced chondrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as assessed by the MTT assay. The apoptosis of SNP-induced chondrocytes treated by DHJSD was significantly decreased compared to SNP-induced chondrocyte, as shown by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. The mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm) of SNP-induced chondrocytes treated by DHJSD was significantly decreased compared to SNP-induced chondrocyte, as shown by JC-1 staining. To understand the mechanism, the mRNA and protein levels of Bax, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), caspase-9 and caspase-3 were detected by reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis, respectively. In SNP-induced chondrocyte treated by DHJSD, the Bcl-2 expression was increased, whereas the expression of Bax, caspase-9 and caspase-3 was decreased compared to SNP-induced chondrocyte. Taken together, these results indicated that DHJSD inhibits the apoptosis of SNP-induced chondrocyte by the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, and this may partly explain its therapeutic efficacy for OA.
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Fayuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian 350002, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guozhong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Research Base of Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wenna
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hongzhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Pingdong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Huiting
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Fujian Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Geriatrics, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiashou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xianxiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Academy of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou 350122, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xihai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C494828:Bax protein, rat; D024043:Collagen Type II; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C000598415:duhuo jisheng; D009599:Nitroprusside; D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9