Effects of Icariin on the Healing of Rat Fracture Model and the Expression of TGF-β1, VEGF and BMP-7
Liu Li-zhu,Li Chao-yi,Lin Shi-wei
Abstract:
Objective To explore the effect of icariin on the healing of rat fracture model and the expression of TGF-β1, VEGF and BMP-7. Methods SD rats were divided into model group (model group), low-dose icariin group (ICA-L group) and high-dose icariin group (ICA-H group), and each group was established fracture model. X-ray film was used to observe the change of fracture line and the time to reach healing of rats in each group. Micro-CT was used to detect bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV) of rats in each group. ELISA was used to detect the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-10 (IL-10), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteocalcinin, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) in the serum of each group of rats. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of TGF-β1, VEGF and BMP-7 protein in the bone tissue of each group. Results Icariin basically completely healed the fractured rats at 7 weeks, and both BMD and BV/TV increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-α decreased (both P<0.05), and the expression levels of IL-10 increased P<0.05), ALP activity increased (P<0.05), osteocalcin content increased in the serum of ICA-L and ICA-H groups (P<0.05). Icariin increased the expression levels of TGF-β1, VEGF and BMP7 in the serum (P<0.05), and increased the expression levels of TGF-β1, VEGF and BMP-7 protein in bone tissue (P<0.05). Conclusion Icariin accelerated fracture healing in rats, which may be related to the expression of TGF-β1, VEGF and BMP-7.
