title: The chondroprotective effects of ferulic acid on hydrogen peroxide-stimulated chondrocytes: inhibition of hydrogen peroxide-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinase gene expression at the mRNA level.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study is to evaluate the effect of ferulic acid (FA), an antioxidant from the Chinese herb Dong-Gui [Chinese angelica, Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels], on the regulation of various genes in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated porcine chondrocytes at the mRNA level.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of FA and the effective concentration of FA on porcine chondrocytes was evaluated by the lactate dehydrogenase, WST-1, crystal violet assay, and a chemical luminescence assay. Gene expression in hydrogen peroxide-stimulated chondrocytes either pre- or post-treated with FA was evaluated by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chondrocytes pre-treated with 40 microM FA decreased the hydrogen peroxide-induced interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and MMP-1 and partially restored SOX9 gene expression. Post-treatment with 40 microM FA also decreased the expression of MMP-1 and MMP-13.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FA decreased the hydrogen peroxide-induced IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, MMP-1 and MMP-13 and increased SOX9 gene expression. These findings suggest that FA may prove to be important in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Further research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Feng-Huei
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D029971:Angelica sinensis; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016877:Oxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D016877:Oxidants; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C004999:ferulic acid; C044613:angelicae sinensis extract; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases