title: p38MAPK mediates IL-1-induced down-regulation of aggrecan gene expression in human chondrocytes.
abstract: The pleiotropic cytokine interleukin 1 (IL-1) is considered to be the principal inducer of mediators of cartilage degradation in both, osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-1 activates numerous signaling pathways involved in cartilage destruction and dedifferentiation of chondrocytes. In this study, we analyzed expression and functional effects of IL-1 in human chondrocytes. We found an IL-1-induced reduction in the expression of the cartilage specific proteoglycan aggrecan as an indicator for the IL-1-mediated dedifferentiation of chondrocytes. To block the IL-1-induced signaling pathways specifically, we incubated human chondrocytes and cartilage explants with IL-1 in the presence of different signal transduction inhibitors and analyzed their effect on aggrecan mRNA expression and IL-6 secretion. IL-6 has been found to act synergistically in the IL-1-induced suppression of the proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes. Our results led to the identification of p38MAPK and/or PI3K/JNK as being crucial for IL-1-induced IL-6 secretion by chondrocytes. IL-1-induced down-regulation of aggrecan expression was found to be mediated by p38MAPK and/or ERK1/2. The identification and characterization of these signaling pathways will enable us to develop new modulation strategies for therapeutic use in inflammatory joint diseases.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie, Universitätsklinikum Regensburg, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. juergen.radons@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radons
authors.forename: Anja Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bosserhoff
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grässel
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Thomas E O
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Schubert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053674:Aggrecans; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D053674:Aggrecans; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005419:Flavonoids; D007093:Imidazoles; D007375:Interleukin-1; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011725:Pyridines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580; C093973:2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one