TY - JOUR AB - The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of quercetin and evaluate its protective effect on articular cartilage in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), by intervening the p38 pathway. The target factors of quercetin protecting articular cartilage in patients with OA were predicted scientifically and analyzed to predict the possible pathways by using network pharmacology. A pathway predicted to be closely associated with osteoarthritis was chosen for experimental verification in in vitro cells. The optimal intervention drug concentrations were selected by the of Cell Cycle Kit‑8 assay, osteoarthritis and inflammatory factors relevant to osteoarthritis, interleukin‑1β and tumor necrosis factor‑α, were tested by of enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay, and the expression of relevant proteins and mRNA of the p38 signaling pathway was tested by reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blotting, following quercetin intervention. It was found that quercetin, at the concentration of 100 umol/l, can decrease inflammatory factors relevant to OA, inhibit the expression of p38, matrix metalloprotease 13 and ADAMTS in the pathway, and promote the expression of collagen Ⅱ. Therefore, it is postulated that quercetin can lower the expression of inflammatory factors in cartilage for the prevention and treatment of OA, and the expression level of relevant factors can be changed positively by blocking the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. Thus, quercetin can promote the repair of degenerative chondrocytes and protect articular chondrocytes. AD - First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355, P.R. China Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China Special Inspection Department, Affiliated Ophthalmic Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250002, P.R. China Shandong Institute of Commerce and Technology, Jinan, Shandong 250103, P.R. China College of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355 P.R. China AU - Wang,Xiang-Peng AU - Xie,Wen-Peng AU - Bi,Yi-Fei AU - Wang,Bao-An AU - Song,Hong-Bo AU - Wang,Shi-Lu AU - Bi,Rong-Xiu DA - 2021/05/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.9899 IS - 5 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - quercetin osteoarthritis p38 MAPK signaling pathway network pharmacology in vitro experiment PY - 2021 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 468 ST - Quercetin suppresses apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by IL‑1β via inactivation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Quercetin suppresses apoptosis of chondrocytes induced by IL‑1β via inactivation of p38 MAPK signaling pathway UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.9899 VL - 21 ER -