Abstract:To observe the effects of intra-articular injection of different concentrations of anodonta glucan HBP-A on knee cartilage degeneration and related factors promoting articular cartilage catabolism in guinea pigs. Methods: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) amputation was performed on the right knee joint of guinea pigs. 200μl low, moderate and high concentration of HBP-A were injected into the right knee joint after operation, and then once a week for 5 weeks. The degeneratione the injury score of articular cartilage were measured by OARSI method with Safranine-solid green staining (SO). The protein expressions of Runx2, Ihh, ALP and MMP13 in tibial articular cartilage were detected by immunohistochemical method. qPCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Ihh, IL-1β, MMP-13 and Runx2 in femoral articular cartilage. Results: SO method showed that the cartilage of the model group was obviously worn, the soft layer disappeared or deeply broken, the content of polysaccharide decreased, and the cells gathered, hypertrophy, necrosis and disorder, and the OARSI score increased 9 times compared with the normal control group, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After intra-articular injection of different concentrations of HBP-A, cartilage wear was gradually improved, the number of cell death in tissue decreased, the loss of proteoglycan content decreased, and the OARSI score gradually decreased, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of Runx2, Ihh, ALP and MMP13 in tibial articular cartilage were significantly decreased in all concentration groups (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression of Ihh, IL-1 β, MMP-13 and Runx2 in femoral articular cartilage decreased gradually in all concentration groups, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Intra-articular injection of HBP-A can reduce or delay the degree of knee cartilage degeneration in guinea pigs.