Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is inhibited by hyaluronan via intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in articular chondrocytes stimulated with type II collagen peptide.

This study examined the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase with matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) production by a synthetic peptide derived from type II collagen (CB12-II) and its inhibition by high molecular weight hyaluronan (HA) in chondrocytes. When cartilage explants or isolated chondrocytes in monolayer were incubated with CB12-II, the peptide (50 µM, 72 h) activated p38 in association with enhanced MMP-13 production. Inhibition studies with SB203580 (0.1 - 1 µM) indicated the requirement of p38 for CB12-II-induced MMP-13 production. Pretreatment with 2700 kDa HA (1 mg/ml, 1 h) resulted in significant suppression of CB12-II-stimulated MMP-13 production in cartilage as well as in chondrocyte monolayer cultures. HA (1 mg/ml) suppressed p38 activation by CB12-II, leading to a decrease in MMP-13 production. The antibody (20 µg/ml) to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which has been recognized as a receptor of HA on chondrocytes, reversed the HA effect on CB12-II action. Thus, the present study clearly demonstrated that high molecular weight HA suppressed CB12-II-activated p38 via ICAM-1 in articular chondrocytes. HA could down-regulate the catabolic action of type II collagen fragments in osteoarthritic joints through the mechanism demonstrated in this study.