title: In vitro suppression of the MMP-3 gene in normal and cytokine-treated human chondrosarcoma using small interfering RNA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) synthesized and secreted from connective tissue cells have been thought to participate in degradation of the extracellular matrix. Increased MMPs activities that degrade proteoglycans have been measured in osteoarthritis cartilage. This study aims to suppress the expression of the MMP-3 gene in in vitro human chondrosarcoma using siRNA.
  
  
  METHODS
  CELLS WERE CATEGORIZED INTO FOUR GROUPS: control (G.1); transfection solution treated (G.2); negative control siRNA treated (G.3); and MMP-3 siRNA treated (G.4). All four groups were further subdivided into two groups - treated and non-treated with IL-1beta- following culture for 48 and 72 h. We observed the effects of gene suppression according to cell morphology, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and hyaluronan (HA) production, and gene expression by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In IL-1beta treated cells the apoptosis rate in G.4 was found to be lower than in all other groups, while viability and mitotic rate were higher than in all other groups (p < 0.05). The production of GAG and HA in G.4 was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). MMP-3 gene expression was downregulated significantly (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-3 specific siRNA can inhibit the expression of MMP-3 in chondrosarcoma. This suggests that MMP-3 siRNA has the potential to be a useful preventive and therapeutic agent for osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Research Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand. korakot@chiangmai.ac.th
authors.forename: Korakot
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nganvongpanit
authors.forename: Patama
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaochird
authors.forename: Puntita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siengdee
authors.forename: Peraphan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pothacharoen
authors.forename: Kasisin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klunklin
authors.forename: Siriwadee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chomdej
authors.forename: Supamit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mekchay
authors.forename: Prachya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kongtaweelert