Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exert Anti-Inflammatory and Chondrocyte Activity in Rats with Knee Arthritis

Abstract

This study investigates whether bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCS) exert antiinflammatory and chondrocyte activity in rats with knee arthritis. 36 SD rats were randomly divided into Health group (H group), knee arthritis group (K group), methotrexate group (M group), BMSCs group (B Group), with 9 rats in each group followed by analysis of the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1, morphology of knee cartilage by H&E staining, chondrocyte activity by MTT assay, and the expression of NO, ERα and cGMP by Western Blot. H&E staining showed that the surface of knee cartilage in group H was smooth and the morphology of chondrocytes was normal. In group K, bone fissure was formed on articular cartilage surface, and the hyperplasia of deep cells was disorder. The surface of articular cartilage in group B and GROUP M gradually became smooth. Compared with group H, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 were increased and chondrocytes activity was decreased in group K (P < 0.05) with decreased TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 levels and increased chondrocytes activity in group M and B (P < 0.05). The levels of NO, ERα and cGMP in knee cartilage of group K were decreased (P < 0.05) and increased in group M and group B (P < 0.05). Bone marrow mesenchymal cells can down-regulate the levels of IL-6, IL-1 and TNF-α, enhance the activity of chondrocytes, and up-regulate the levels of NO, ERα and cGMP, thus providing a new idea for the treatment of knee arthritis.