Rebamipide attenuates pain severity and cartilage degeneration in a rat model of osteoarthritis by downregulating oxidative damage and catabolic activity in chondrocytes.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives were to investigate the in vivo effects of treatment with rebamipide on pain severity and cartilage degeneration in an experimental model of rat osteoarthritis (OA) and to explore its mode of action.


METHODS
OA was induced in rats by intra-articular injection of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA). Oral administration of rebamipide was initiated on the day of MIA injection, 3 or 7 days after. Limb nociception was assessed by measuring the paw withdrawal latency and threshold. We analyzed the samples macroscopically and histomorphologically, and used immunohistochemistry to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), hypoxia-inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nitrotyrosine in knee joints. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify the mRNA for catabolic and anticatabolic factors in human OA chondrocytes.


RESULTS
Rebamipide showed an antinociceptive property and attenuated cartilage degeneration. Rebamipide reduced the expression of MMP-13, IL-1β, HIF-2α, iNOS, and nitrotyrosine in OA cartilage in a dose-dependent manner. Nitrotyrosine expression in the subchondral bone region was decreased in the rebamipide-treated joints. mRNA expression of MMP-1, -3, and -13, and ADAMTS5 was attenuated in IL-1β-stimulated human OA chondrocytes. By contrast, rebamipide induced the mRNA expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and -3.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show the inhibitory effects of rebamipide on pain production and cartilage degeneration in experimentally induced OA. The suppression of oxidative damage and the restoration of extracellular matrix homeostasis of articular chondrocyte suggest that rebamipide is a potential therapeutic strategy for OA.
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon City, Kyunggi-Do, Republic of Korea. prajna79@catholic.ac.kr
S-J
SJ
Moon
Y-J
YJ
Woo
J-H
JH
Jeong
M-K
MK
Park
H-J
HJ
Oh
J-S
JS
Park
E-K
EK
Kim
M-L
ML
Cho
S-H
SH
Park
H-Y
HY
Kim
J-K
JK
Min
D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010146:Pain / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015363:Quinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013264:Stifle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D000700:Analgesics; D015415:Biomarkers; D015363:Quinolones; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine