The protective effect of licofelone on experimental osteoarthritis is correlated with the downregulation of gene expression and protein synthesis of several major cartilage catabolic factors: MMP-13, cathepsin K and aggrecanases.
This study sought to evaluate the levels of mRNA expression and protein synthesis of MMP-13, cathepsin K, aggrecanase-1 (ADAMTS-4), aggrecanase-2 (ADAMTS-5) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in cartilage in the experimental anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) dog model of osteoarthritis (OA), and to examine the effects of treatment with licofelone, a 5-lipoxygenase (LOX)/cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor, on the levels of these catabolic factors. Sectioning of the ACL of the right knee was performed in three experimental groups: group 1 received no active treatment (placebo group); and groups 2 and 3 received therapeutic concentrations of licofelone (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg/day orally, respectively) for 8 weeks, beginning the day following surgery. A fourth group consisted of untreated dogs that were used as normal controls. Specimens of cartilage were selected from lesional areas of OA femoral condyles and tibial plateaus, and were processed for real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analyses. The levels of MMP-13, cathepsin K, ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5 and 5-LOX were found to be significantly increased in OA cartilage. Licofelone treatment decreased the levels of both mRNA expression and protein synthesis of the factors studied. Of note was the marked reduction in the level of 5-LOX gene expression. The effects of the drug were about the same at both tested dosages. In vivo treatment with therapeutic dosages of licofelone has been found to reduce the degradation of OA cartilage in experimental OA. This, coupled with the results of the present study, indicates that the effects of licofelone are mediated by the inhibition of the major cartilage catabolic pathways involved in the destruction of cartilage matrix macromolecules. Moreover, our findings also indicate the possible auto-regulation of 5-LOX gene expression by licofelone in OA cartilage.
Pelletier
Jean-Pierre
JP
Osteoarthritis Research Unit, University of Montreal Hospital Centre, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. dr@jppelletier.ca
Boileau
Christelle
C
Boily
Martin
M
Brunet
Julie
J
Mineau
François
F
Geng
Changshen
C
Reboul
Pascal
P
Laufer
Stefan
S
Lajeunesse
Daniel
D
Martel-Pelletier
Johanne
J
D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D000071121:ADAMTS4 Protein; D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D056657:Cathepsin K; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017364:Collagenases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004285:Dogs; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011348:Procollagen N-Endopeptidase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D000085:Acetates; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D011758:Pyrroles; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001094:Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; D002403:Cathepsins; D056657:Cathepsin K; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D017364:Collagenases; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D011348:Procollagen N-Endopeptidase; D000071121:ADAMTS4 Protein; C088092:licofelone