Propofol Modulates the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB Axis to Influence Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats

Chengneng FAN; Jintao SHI; Shuangwei LU; Meng YU

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Chengneng FAN, Jintao SHI, Shuangwei LU, Meng YU. Propofol Modulates the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB Axis to Influence Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

Citation:

Chengneng FAN, Jintao SHI, Shuangwei LU, Meng YU. Propofol Modulates the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB Axis to Influence Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

Chengneng FAN, Jintao SHI, Shuangwei LU, Meng YU. Propofol Modulates the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB Axis to Influence Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

Citation:

Chengneng FAN, Jintao SHI, Shuangwei LU, Meng YU. Propofol Modulates the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB Axis to Influence Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats[J]. Journal of Kunming Medical University.

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Propofol Modulates the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB Axis to Influence Knee Osteoarthritis in Rats

Anesthesiology Department，Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Nanjing Jiangsu 210022，China

Received Date: 2025-09-19
Available Online: 2026-01-04

Abstract

Abstract

Objective To explore the effect of propofol on pain relief in rats with knee osteoarthritis （KOA） and its regulatory mechanism on the microRNA-142-3p （miR-142-3p）/Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 （RAC1）/nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） axis. Methods A rat knee osteoarthritis model was established by surgically transecting the anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament, and medial meniscus, with intervention by miR-142-3p antagomir or propofol. Following the conclusion of the intervention, the mechanical pain withdrawal threshold in rats was assessed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） was employed to detect levels of substance P （SP）, calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP）, tumour necrosis factor-α （TNF-α）, interleukin （IL）-1β, IL-4 and IL-10 levels in rat serum. Modified Lequesne MG score for assessing knee joint function. Immunofluorescence detection of ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 （IBA-1） , an activational marker of microglia, in spinal cord tissue. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （qRT-PCR） was employed to determine the relative expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS）, arginase 1 （Arg-1）, and miR-142-3p in spinal cord tissue. Western blot analysis of RAC1, p-NF-κB p65 and NF-κB p65 protein expression levels in spinal cord tissue. Results Compared with the KOA group, rats in the miR-142-3p antagomir group exhibited a reduced mechanical pain threshold （P < 0.05）, increased Lequesne MG scores and serum levels of SP, CGRP, TNF-α, and IL-1β （P < 0.05）, serum IL-4 and IL-10 levels, and spinal cord tissue Arg-1 and miR-142-3p expression levels decreased （P < 0.05）. Spinal cord tissue IBA-1 fluorescence intensity, iNOS mRNA expression levels, and RAC1 and p-NF-κB p65 protein expression levels increased （P < 0.05）. The propofol group exhibited increased mechanical pain thresholds in rats （P < 0.05）, reduced Lequesne MG scores and serum levels of SP, CGRP, TNF-α, and IL-1β （P < 0.05）, serum IL-4 and IL-10 levels, and spinal cord tissue Arg-1 and miR-142-3p expression levels increased （P < 0.05）. Spinal cord tissue IBA-1 fluorescence intensity, iNOS mRNA expression levels, and RAC1 and p-NF-κB p65 protein expression levels decreased （P < 0.05）. Compared with the miR-142-3p antagomir group, the propofol group and the propofol+miR-142-3p antagomir group demonstrated significant improvement in the aforementioned indicators in rats （P < 0.05）. The miR-142-3p antagomir partially reversed the ameliorative effects of propofol in KOA rats （P < 0.05）. Conclusion Propofol may inhibit the M1 polarization of microglia, promote the M2 polarization, exert anti-inflammatory effect and inhibit the pain response of KOA rats by regulating the miR-142-3p/RAC1/NF-κB axis.
- Propofol,
- MicroRNA-142-3p,
- RAC1/NF-κB pathway,
- Knee osteoarthritis,
- Microglial polarization

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