title: Edible Bird's nest extract as a chondro-protective agent for human chondrocytes isolated from osteoarthritic knee: in vitro study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that results in the destruction of cartilage. Edible Bird's Nest (EBN) extract contains important components, which can reduce the progression of osteoarthritis and helps in the regeneration of the cartilage. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of EBN extract on the catabolic and anabolic activities of the human articular chondrocytes (HACs) isolated from the knee joint of patients with OA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single batch of EBN extract was prepared with hot-water extraction and coded as HMG. HACs were isolated from the knee joint cartilage removed during surgery. The optimum concentration of HMG for HAC cultures was determined using MTT assay. The effect of HMG on the catabolic and anabolic genes' expression in HACs was measured by real-time PCR. The total amount of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was determined by ELISA method, and the total sulphated glycosaminoglycan (GAGs) production was quantified by 1,9-dimethylmethylene blue (DMMB) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MTT assay showed 0.50% - 1.00% HMG supplementation promoted HACs proliferation. HMG supplementation was able to reduce the catabolic genes' expression in cultured HACs such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP1 & MMP3), Interleukin 1, 6 and 8 (IL-1, IL-6 & IL-8), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was significantly reduced in HAC cultures supplemented with HMG. With regard to anabolic activity assessment, type II collagen, Aggrecan and SOX-9 gene expression as well as sGAG production was increased in the HMG supplemented groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Edible Bird's Nest extract coded as HMG demonstrated chondro-protection ability on human articular chondrocytes in vitro. It reduced catabolic activities and increased cartilage extracellular matrix synthesis. It is concluded that HMG is a potential agent in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
authors: Department of Physiology, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Kien-Hui
authors: KH
authors: Chua
authors: Ting-Hun
authors: TH
authors: Lee
authors: Kamini
authors: K
authors: Nagandran
authors: Nor Hamdan
authors: NH
authors: Md Yahaya
authors: Chew-Tin
authors: CT
authors: Lee
authors: Eddie Tan Ti
authors: ET
authors: Tjih
authors: Ramlan
authors: R
authors: Abdul Aziz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007717:Knee; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015232:Dinoprostone