title: Triptolide suppresses proinflammatory cytokine-induced matrix metalloproteinase and aggrecanase-1 gene expression in chondrocytes.
abstract: A hallmark of rheumatoid- and osteoarthritis (OA) is proinflammatory cytokine-induced degeneration of cartilage collagen and aggrecan by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and aggrecanases (ADAMTS). Effects of the Chinese herb, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (TWHF), on cartilage and its anti-arthritic mechanisms are poorly understood. This study investigated the impact of a purified derivative of TWHF, PG490 (triptolide), on cytokine-stimulated expression of the major cartilage damaging proteases, MMP-3, MMP-13, and ADAMTS4. PG490 inhibited cytokine-induced MMP-3, MMP-13 gene expression in primary human OA chondrocytes, bovine chondrocytes, SW1353 cells, and human synovial fibroblasts. Triptolide was effective at low doses and blocked the induction of MMP-13 by IL-1 in human and bovine cartilage explants. TWHF extract and PG490 also suppressed IL-1-, IL-17-, and TNF-alpha-induced expression of ADAMTS-4 in bovine chondrocytes. Thus, PG490 could protect cartilage from MMP- and aggrecanase-driven breakdown. The immunosuppressive, cartilage protective, and anti-inflammatory properties could make PG490 potentially a new therapeutic agent for arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Montreal and CHUM Research Center, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Que., Canada H2L 4M1.
authors.forename: Abdelhamid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liacini
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sylvester
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafarullah
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071121:ADAMTS4 Protein; D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017364:Collagenases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000494:pharmacology; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011348:Procollagen N-Endopeptidase; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D029757:Tripterygium / Q000737:chemistry; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004224:Diterpenes; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007375:Interleukin-1; D020381:Interleukin-17; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C001899:triptolide; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D011348:Procollagen N-Endopeptidase; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D000071121:ADAMTS4 Protein; C000603918:ADAMTS4 protein, human