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Chitosan oligosaccharides inhibit IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis via the P38 MAPK signaling pathway

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Abstract

The preventive and therapeutic effects of chitosan oligosaccharides (COS) on osteoarthritis (OA) have been rarely investigated. In this study, the protective effects of COS against IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis were evaluated and the underlying mechanisms were elucidated. Results showed that COS not only inhibited cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner but also ameliorated IL-1β-induced nuclear chromatin damage and mitochondrial membrane potential in chondrocytes. In IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, COS downregulated the expression of Bax and caspase-3 but upregulated the expression of Bcl-2 by inhibiting the phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). COS inhibited the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and enhanced the mRNA expression of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). These results suggested that COS effectively inhibits the IL-1β-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes by activating the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. COS may also be used as a unique biological agent to prevent and treat OA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedics, Central Laboratory, Renmin Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China

    Chun Zhang, Ling Yu, Yan Zhou, Qi Zhao & Shi-Qing Liu

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  1. Chun Zhang
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  2. Ling Yu
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  3. Yan Zhou
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  4. Qi Zhao
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  5. Shi-Qing Liu
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Correspondence to Shi-Qing Liu.

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Zhang, C., Yu, L., Zhou, Y. et al. Chitosan oligosaccharides inhibit IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis via the P38 MAPK signaling pathway. Glycoconj J 33, 735–744 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10719-016-9667-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10719-016-9667-1

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