Effects of electroacupuncture combined with methotrexate on the expression of JAK-STAT signal pathways and VEGF in rheumatoid arthritis rats

WEN Jun; RONG Xiaofeng; XU Yanming; TAN Hongfa

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20180036

Abstract：This study was performed to investigate the therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture combined with methotrexate on rheumatoid arthritis rats and its mechanisms.CIA model was constructed by intradermal injection of complete freund's adjuvant and cow collagen type Ⅱ in 60 rats,which were then randomly divided into control group,model group,methotrexate group,electroacupuncture group and combined treatment group.After treatment for 12 weeks,rats were sacrificed to evaluate the change of gross and histology by Pelletier score and Mankin score;the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum were detected by ELISA and the mRNA expression level of Collagen Type Ⅱ was detected by RT-PCR.Chondrocyte apoptosis rate was detected by TUNNEL,while the expression of JAk-3,STAT-3,VEGF in cartilage were detected by RT-PCR,Western blot and Immunohistochemistry.Data showed that the Pelletier score,Mankin score,chondrocyte apoptosis rate,the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum,and the expression of JAk-3,STAT-3,VEGF in cartilage in model group were significantly higher than those in control group (P＜0.05),while the mRNA expression level of Collagen Type Ⅱ in model group was significantly lower than that in control group (P＜0.05).The Pelletier score,Mankin score,chondrocyte apoptosis rate,the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum,and the expression of JAk-3,STAT-3,VEGF in cartilage in methotrexate group,electroacupuncture group and combined treatment group were significantly lower than that in model group (P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the Pelletier score,Mankin score,chondrocyte apoptosis rate,the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in serum,and the expression of JAk-3,STAT-3,VEGF in cartilage in combined treatment group were significantly lower than that in methotrexate group and electroacupuncture group (P＜0.05) and there was no statistical difference between methotrexate group and electroacupuncture group (P＞0.05).The mRNA expression level of Collagen Type Ⅱ in methotrexate group,electroacupuncture group and combined treatment group were significantly higher than that in model group (P＜0.05).Meanwhile,the mRNA expression level of Collagen Type Ⅱ in combined treatment group were significantly higher than that in methotrexate group and electroacupuncture group (P＜0.05) and there was no statistical difference between methotrexate group and electroacupuncture group (P＞0.05).In conclusion,electroacupuncture is an effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,especially in combination with methotrexate.The mechanism is possibly due to inhibiting JAK-STAT signal pathway and the expression of VEGF.