Fig. 5

NLRP3 silencing alleviates symptoms and increases the therapeutic effect of DHJST in KOA mice C57BL/6 mice were injected with control AAV2 (Con AAV) or NLRP3 shRNA AAV2 (nlr_KD AAV) into the tail vein for 3 weeks. Then, 4% papain 0.1 ml (once a week for three weeks) was injected into the right knee joint of the mice to induce KOA, and 4 g/kg DHJST was used to treat the mice for 4 weeks. A, B Immunohistochemical staining of NLRP3 in mouse right knee joint synovium and mean optical density analysis in normal mice with Con AAV or nlr_KD AAV. C, D Immunohistochemical staining of NLRP3 in mouse right knee joint cartilage and its mean optical density analysis in normal mice with Con AAV or nlr_KD AAV. E NLRP3 mRNA expression levels in the synovium of the right knee joint of normal mice with Con AAV or nlr_KD AAV. F Representative picture of the morphology of the right knee joint of the mice after treatment. G Line plots recorded the thickness of the right paw of the mice before modeling (baseline), after modeling (modeling), and after weekly administration (1–4 weeks). Con AAV groups vs. nlr_KD AAV groups, $P < 0.05; DHJST groups vs. Model groups, * P < 0.05. (H) Detection of serum IL-1β levels in the mice after treatment by ELISA kit. I, J Immunohistochemical staining of MMP2 in mouse right knee joint cartilage and mean optical density analysis after treatment. K, L Immunohistochemical staining of MMP2 in mouse right knee joint synovium and its mean optical density analysis after treatment. N = 8 in A–H, N = 6 in I–L