title: Interleukin-1beta increases the functional expression of connexin 43 in articular chondrocytes: evidence for a Ca2+-dependent mechanism.
abstract: Cell-to-cell interactions and gap junctions-dependent communication are crucially involved in chondrogenic differentiation, whereas in adult articular cartilage direct intercellular communication occurs mainly among chondrocytes facing the outer cartilage layer. Chondrocytes extracted from adult articular cartilage and grown in primary culture express connexin 43 (Cx43) and form functional gap junctions capable of sustaining the propagation of intercellular Ca2+ waves. Degradation of articular cartilage is a characteristic feature of arthritic diseases and is associated to increased levels of Interleukin-1 (IL-1) in the synovial fluid. We have examined the effects of IL-1 on gap junctional communication in cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes. Incubation with IL-1 potentiated the transmission of intercellular Ca2+ waves and the intercellular transfer of Lucifer yellow. The stimulatory effect was accompanied by a dose-dependent increase in the expression of Cx43 and by an enhanced Cx43 immunostaining at sites of cell-to-cell contact. IL-1 stimulation induced a dose-dependent increase of cytosolic Ca2+ and activates protein tyrosine phosphorylation. IL-1-dependent up-regulation of Cx43 could be prevented by intracellular Ca2+ chelation but not by inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinases, suggesting a crucial role of cytosolic Ca2+ in regulating the expression of Cx43. IL-1 is one of the most potent cytokines that promotes cartilage catabolism; its modulation of intercellular communication represents a novel mechanism by which proinflammatory mediators regulate the activity of cartilage cells.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica, Biofisica e Chimica delle Macromolecole, Università di Trieste, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tonon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007546:Isoquinolines; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D018031:Connexin 43; D007375:Interleukin-1; D007546:Isoquinolines; C070379:1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester; D004533:Egtazic Acid; C017475:lucifer yellow; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D002118:Calcium