The Study About Expression Level Of IL-17and MMP-3in The Process Of Recovering Of Rabbit Articular Cartilage Injury Caused By Immobilization

Objective:To study expression level of IL (interleukin)-17and MMP (matrix metalloproteinases)-3in the Synovial fluid,in the process of recovering of rabbit articular cartilage injury caused by immobilization, and their dependability, so as to investigate the effect of IL-17and MMP-3on recovering articular cartilage.Methods:The left knee joint was fixed with plaster bandage in extention position.30rabbits were distributed random to A group (fixed for4weeks); B,C, D group (free movement after immobilization for2,4,6weeks) and E group (blank). The levels of IL-17and MMP-3in Synovial fluid were tested by ELISA. Observed the general morphology and using optical microscope to observe the histological and morphological changes of cartilages by HE staining.Results:The articular cartilage of the rabbit fixed for4weeks was damaged obviously,and the levels of IL-17and MMP-3in Synovial fluid were high. With the extension of time of free movement,the articular cartilage injury was alleviating gradually,the recovering was gradual evident, and the content of IL-17and MMP-3in the Synovial fluid gradually reduced (P<0.05), its level were clear linear correlation(r=0.981, P<0.05).Conclusion:The long immobilization of articulation could destroy articular cartilage, while IL-17and MMP-3as damage actors had participated actively in rabbit articular cartilage damage. But freedom of movement could promote self-repairs of damaged articular cartilage. And the longer the continued their movement, the better its repairs of articular cartilage. The content of IL-17and MMP-3in the Synovial fluid gradually reduced in time repairing, IL-17could regulate MMP-3, MMP-3showed obvious dependence on IL-17, their had positive significance correlation.