Shi-style Steaming and Bathing Decoction on Knee Osteoarthritis by Decreasing Synovial Fibrosis and Angiogenesis

Aim: of the study: A discussion of the effect of Shi-style steaming and bathing decoction on synovial fibrosis and vascular hyperplasia. Materials and methods An anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT method) was used to replicate the knee osteoarthritis (KOA) model. After 4 weeks, and synovial tissues were taken for hematoxylin-eosin staining (HE) and Krenn score to verify whether the KOA model was successfully established. After the 4-week successful modeling, each group used different interventions for 4 weeks, while the sham-operated and KOA model groups were not intervened. At the end of the intervention, HE staining and Masson staining were used and Krenn scores and positive fiber areas were calculated.Femoral artery blood flows in the right lower limb was detected with a color Doppler ultrasound machine. The protein expression level of VEGFA was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical assay, and the quantitatively analyze the mRNA of VEGFA using Real-time PCR . Results The animals in Shi-style steaming and bathing decoction herbal bath treatment group generally performed well. HE staining, Krenn score and Masson staining indicated that Shi-style steaming and bathing decoction herbal baths reduced the number of synovial inflammatory cells, attenuated synovial fibrosis, decreased blood flow velocity, alleviated vascular resistance, and decreased the protein expression level of VEGFA in vivo and the mRNA expression level. Conclusions In the rabbit KOA model, Shi-style steaming and bathing decoction herbal bath at 40°C can alleviate synovial inflammation, fibrosis and revascularization, and improve local blood circulation of the knee joint. Therefore, it is feasible for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.