[Pro-apoptotic effect of retinoic acid on chondrocyte through regulation on gene expression of IGF-2].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on cell apoptosis and gene regulation of IGF-2 in chondrocyte.


METHODS
One 1-month-old Chinese rabbit weighted 500 g was used in this experiment. The chondrocyte from rabbit knee were cultured by enzyme digestion. Twenty-five microL all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) (1 x 10(-6) mol/L) were added in the media of cultured chondrocyte for 24 hours as experimental group, while 25 microL DMEM were added as control group. The secretion of collagen II was observed by immunohistochemistry method, cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, IGF-2 mRNA and protein expression in chondrocyte were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.


RESULTS
The expression of collagen II was down-regulated by ATRA in the experimental group. The cell apoptosis in chondrocyte exposed to ATRA at 1 x 10(-6) mol/L was 21% +/- 2%, which increased 5 times compared with the control group (5% +/- 1%). The IGF-2 mRNA and protein level in the experimental group were decreased 75% and 57%, respectively, compared to the control group. There were significant difference between the experimental group and control group in each index (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
RA may down-regulate the secretion and cell proliferation, but up-regulate the cell apoptosis in chondrocyte. The apoptotic effect may carry out through inhibiting the IGF-2 expression of chondrocyte.
Guo
Lei
L
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang Liaoning, 110001, P.R. China. G572@sina.com
Zhan
Yuyan
Y
Zhang
Shiliang
S
Liu
Kui
K
Gao
Xiaoyu
X
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D024043:Collagen Type II; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II