Objective: To observe the effect of serum containing Duhuo Jisheng Tang on cell metabolism

bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) and the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) in articular cartilage of rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA)

and complement the theory basis for the clinical application of Duhuo Jisheng Tang. Method: Hulth method was adopted to establish the KOA model rats

and after successful modeling

enzyme digestion method was used for primary culture of KOA cartilage cells. Forty rats were divided into Duhuo Jisheng Tang low

middle and high dose groups (0.85

1.7

3.4 g · kg-1) and glucosamine sulfate group (0.3 g · kg-1). After 14 days of intragastric administration

serum was taken. Cultured cells can be divided into normal control group

model group

Duhuo Jisheng Tang drug-containing serum groups (high

middle and low dose groups) and positive control group. Then crystal violet method was used to test the cell proliferation of each group; fluorescent TUNEL method was used to measure the cell apoptosis of each group.The mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13)

MMP-3

ColⅡ

Aggrecan

BMP-7 and SIRT1 in chondrocytes were detected by Real-time PCR

and the protein expression levels of MMP-13

MMP-3

ColⅡ

Aggrecan

BMP-7 and SIRT1 were detected by Western blot in each group of cartilage cells. Result: ① As compared with the normal control group

the proliferation was significantly decreased in model group. As compared with the model group

the proliferation of chondrocytes was significantly increased in Duhuo Jisheng Tang low

middle

and high dose groups and positive control group (P<0.01). ② As compared with the normal control group

the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased in model group. As compared with model group

the apoptotic rate of chondrocytes was significantly decreased in Duhuo Jisheng Tang low

middle

high dose groups and positive control group (P<0.01). ③As compared with the normal control group

the expression levels of MMP-13 and MMP-3 were increased

and the expression levels of ColⅡ

Aggrecan

BMP-7 and SIRT1 were decreased in the model group. As compared with the model group

the expression levels of MMP-13

MMP-3 mRNA and protein in the low dose group had no significant difference; the expression of MMP-13

MMP-3 mRNA and protein were significantly decreased in the positive control group and Duhuo Jisheng Tang middle and high dose groups

and the expression levels were decreased with the dose increasing. The expression levels of ColⅡ

Aggrecan

BMP-7 and SIRT1 in the positive control group and the low

middle and high dose groups were increased

and the levels were increased with the increase of the dose (P<0.01). Conclusion：Serum containing Duhuo Jisheng Tang can increase the expression of BMP-7 and SIRT1 KOA in chondrocytes

increase metabolism

and inhibit synthesis of KOA cartilage cells

thus inhibiting the apoptosis of KOA chondrocytes and promoting the regeneration of cartilage cells treat KOA.