Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on Cathepsin-B in the synovium of the knee joint of acute gouty arthritis(AGA) rats

so as to explore the mechanism of EA in the treatment of AGA. Methods A total of 60 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control

model

medication and EA groups

with 15 rats in each group. Rat model of AGA was established by injection of 0.2 mL sodium urate crystal suspension into the left knee joint cavity. The rats in the medication group were treated with colchicine by gavage(0.3 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

)

and the rats in the EA group were treated with EA at the left "Sanyinjiao"(SP6) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 10 min each time

once a day for a week. The Coderre gait grading standard was used to score the gait of rats. The pathological morphology of synovial tissue of the left knee joint was observed by H.E. staining. The expression levels of Cathepsin-B protein and Nod-like receptor pyrin domain 3(NLRP3)

apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD(ASC)

Caspase-1

interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and IL-18 mRNAs were detected by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR

respectively. Results Compared with the normal control group

the degree of synovitis infiltration in the model group was more serious. And the gait score

the protein expression level of Cathepsin-B and the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3

ASC

Caspase-1

IL-1β

IL-18 were significantly increased(P

<

0.01).After the interventions

the degree of inflammatory infiltration was mild

The gait score

the protein expression level of Cathepsin-B and the mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 and ASC

Caspase-1

IL-1β

IL-18 were significantly decreased in both medication and EA groups in contrast to the model group(P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05). Compared with medication group

the mRNA expression levels of Caspase-1 and IL-18 in the EA group were increased(P

<

0.05). Conclusion EA may inhibit the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by reducing the activity of Cathepsin-B in the synovium of the knee joint

so as to treat AGA.