Casticin ameliorates osteoarthritic cartilage damage in rats through PI3K/ AKT/HIF-1 signaling

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a chronic, disabling knee joint lesion in which degeneration and defects in articular cartilage are the most important features. Casticin (CAS) is a flavonoid extracted from the Chinese herb Vitex species that has anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic and mechanistic effects of CAS on cartilage damage in KOA. A KOA rat model was established by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT), and cartilage morphological changes were assessed by histological analysis and micro -CT scans. Subsequently, chondrocytes were treated with 10 ng/mL IL-1 beta to establish an OA model. CCK-8 assays and EdU assays were performed to assess the viability of CAS-treated chondrocytes. Western blotting, flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342/PI Double Stain were used to detect chondrocyte apoptosis. Western blotting, qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect changes in inflammatory mediators. In addition, cartilage matrix-related indices were detected by Western blotting, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence (IF) analysis. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Western blotting were performed to detect the expression of p-PI3K, p -AKT and HIF-1 alpha in vivo and in vitro. Micro -CT, pathological sections and related scores showed that CAS improved the alterations in bony structures and reduced cartilage damage and osteophyte formation in the ACLT model. In vivo, CAS attenuated IL-1 beta-induced cartilage matrix degradation, apoptosis and the inflammatory response. In addition, CAS inhibited the expression of the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1 alpha signaling pathway in the ACLT animal model and IL-1 beta cell model. CAS may ameliorate cartilage damage in OA by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1 alpha signaling pathway, suggesting that CAS is a potential strategy for the treatment of OA.