Shikonin inhibits inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis by regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model of osteoarthritis

  • Authors:
    • Daijie Fu
    • Xifu Shang
    • Zhe Ni
    • Guoguang Shi
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: August 31, 2016     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3642
  • Pages: 2735-2740
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Abstract

Shikonin has previously been shown to have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and extensive pharmacological effects. The aim of the present study was to explore whether the protective effect of shikonin is mediated via the inhibition of inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis, and to elucidate the potential molecular mechanisms in a rat model of osteoarthritis. A model of osteoarthritis was established in healthy male Sprague‑Dawley rats and 10 mg/kg/day shikonin was administered intraperitoneally for 4 days. It was found that shikonin treatment significantly inhibited inflammatory reactions in the rats with osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis was found to significantly increase interleukin (IL)‑1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels compared with those in the sham group. However, shikonin treatment significantly inhibited the increases in IL‑1β, TNF‑α and iNOS levels in the rats with osteoarthritis. Furthermore, caspase‑3 activity and cyclooxygenase (COX)‑2 protein expression were significantly increased and phosphorylated Akt protein expression was greatly suppressed in rats with osteoarthritis when compared with the sham group. Shikonin administration attenuated the changes in caspase‑3 activity and COX‑2 expression and Akt phosphorylation in rats with osteoarthritis. These results indicate that shikonin inhibits inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis by regulating the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model of osteoarthritis.
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October-2016
Volume 12 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Fu D, Shang X, Ni Z and Shi G: Shikonin inhibits inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis by regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Exp Ther Med 12: 2735-2740, 2016
APA
Fu, D., Shang, X., Ni, Z., & Shi, G. (2016). Shikonin inhibits inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis by regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model of osteoarthritis. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 12, 2735-2740. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3642
MLA
Fu, D., Shang, X., Ni, Z., Shi, G."Shikonin inhibits inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis by regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model of osteoarthritis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12.4 (2016): 2735-2740.
Chicago
Fu, D., Shang, X., Ni, Z., Shi, G."Shikonin inhibits inflammation and chondrocyte apoptosis by regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in a rat model of osteoarthritis". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 12, no. 4 (2016): 2735-2740. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2016.3642