Bushen Tongluowan promotes chondrocyte proliferation through multi-gene regulation

Abstract

Traditional Chinese orthopedics has a long history and excellent clinical effects in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). Bushen Tongluowan (BSTLW) is a representative prescription based on ''kidney governing bones'' theory in Traditional Chinese medicine. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its effect on articular chondrocytes remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of BSTLW on primary chondrocytes and analyzed the gene expression of chondrocytes after drug treatment using RNA-Seq. The results showed that BSTLW significantly improved chondrocyte proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is achieved through the regulation of multiple genes, including the upregulation of proproliferative and apoptotic inhibitors and the downregulation of pro-apoptotic and proliferative inhibitors. At the same time, chondrocyte differentiation was inhibited, and chondrocyte proliferation remained active. This study fills the gap in the molecular effect of BSTLW on chondrocytes.

Keywords

• Bushen Tongluowan
• Osteoarthritis
• Chondrocytes
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Classic Chinese formulation