Endothelin-1 in osteoarthritic chondrocytes triggers nitric oxide production and upregulates collagenase production

Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;7(2):R324-32. doi: 10.1186/ar1489. Epub 2005 Jan 17.

Abstract

The mechanism of endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, MMP-1 production and MMP-13 production was investigated in human osteoarthritis chondrocytes. The cells were isolated from human articular cartilage obtained at surgery and were cultured in the absence or presence of ET-1 with or without inhibitors of protein kinase or LY83583 (an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase and of cGMP). MMP-1, MMP-13 and NO levels were then measured by ELISA and Griess reaction, respectively. Additionally, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and phosphorylated forms of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, p44/42, stress-activated protein kinase/Jun-N-terminal kinase and serine-threonine Akt kinase were determined by western blot. Results show that ET-1 greatly increased MMP-1 and MMP-13 production, iNOS expression and NO release. LY83583 decreased the production of both metalloproteases below basal levels, whereas the inhibitor of p38 kinase, SB202190, suppressed ET-1-stimulated production only. Similarly, the ET-1-induced NO production was partially suppressed by the p38 kinase inhibitor and was completely suppressed by the protein kinase A kinase inhibitor KT5720 and by LY83583, suggesting the involvement of these enzymes in relevant ET-1 signalling pathways. In human osteoarthritis chondrocytes, ET-1 controls the production of MMP-1 and MMP-13. ET-1 also induces NO release via iNOS induction. ET-1 and NO should thus become important target molecules for future therapies aimed at stopping cartilage destruction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aminoquinolines / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Carbazoles / pharmacology
  • Cartilage, Articular / pathology*
  • Cells, Cultured / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured / metabolism
  • Chondrocytes / drug effects*
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism
  • Collagenases / biosynthesis*
  • Collagenases / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cyclic GMP / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Endothelin-1 / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Female
  • Guanylate Cyclase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / drug effects
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / biosynthesis
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / genetics
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 13
  • Middle Aged
  • Nitric Oxide / biosynthesis*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / biosynthesis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / metabolism
  • Osteoarthritis, Knee / pathology*
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Pyridines / pharmacology
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors

Substances

  • Aminoquinolines
  • Carbazoles
  • Endothelin-1
  • Imidazoles
  • Indoles
  • Pyridines
  • Pyrroles
  • Nitric Oxide
  • KT 5720
  • 6-anilino-5,8-quinolinedione
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Collagenases
  • MMP13 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 13
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1
  • Guanylate Cyclase
  • Cyclic GMP
  • 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)imidazole