Xiaohan Zhang1, Jun Yao2, Zhengyuan Wu1, Kai Zou1, Zhenyi Yang3, Xing Huang3, Zhiwei Luan3, Jia Li4, Qingjun Wei5. 1. Department of Orthopedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. 2. Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China; Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. 3. Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. 4. Department of Pathology, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. Electronic address: jialee2005@126.com. 5. Department of Orthopedics Trauma and Hand Surgery, Guangxi Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China; Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomedicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China. Electronic address: weiqingjungxnn@163.com.
Abstract
AIMS: Daphnetin (DAP) is a traditional Chinese drug usually used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial and insecticidal, anti-tumor and neuro-protective effects of DAP. However, its anti-arthritic potential remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro and in vivo chondroprotective effects of DAP. MAIN METHODS: The effect of DAP on primary rabbit chondrocytes was examined using recombinant human IL-1β for 24 h. For the in vivo studies, rabbits were randomly divided into groups: a normal control group and osteoarthritis (OA) groups. The OA groups received three different doses of DAP for 4 or 8 weeks. The anti-arthritic effect of DAP was assessed using histopathological examinations, qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that DAP exerts a protective effect against IL-1β in chondrocytes. In vitro, DAP inhibits the expression of IL-6, IL-12, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13, induced by IL-1β in rabbit chondrocytes, and stimulates the production of IL-10. The inhibitory effect of DAP on the MMPs is partially regulated by the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT, MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. The effect of DAP on OA may be attributed to the suppression of inflammatory factor secretion, chondrocyte apoptosis observed by the decrease in pro-apoptotic Caspase-3 and BAX, and the activation of anti-apoptotic BCL-2. SIGNIFICANCE: DAP has a broad range of prospects in the treatment of OA, which provides a novel therapeutic strategy for OA.
AIMS: Daphnetin (DAP) is a traditional Chinese drug usually used to treat cardiovascular diseases. Studies have confirmed the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial and insecticidal, anti-tumor and neuro-protective effects of DAP. However, its anti-arthritic potential remains unexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro and in vivo chondroprotective effects of DAP. MAIN METHODS: The effect of DAP on primary rabbit chondrocytes was examined using recombinant human IL-1β for 24 h. For the in vivo studies, rabbits were randomly divided into groups: a normal control group and osteoarthritis (OA) groups. The OA groups received three different doses of DAP for 4 or 8 weeks. The anti-arthritic effect of DAP was assessed using histopathological examinations, qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis. KEY FINDINGS: Both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that DAP exerts a protective effect against IL-1β in chondrocytes. In vitro, DAP inhibits the expression of IL-6, IL-12, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MMP-13, induced by IL-1β in rabbit chondrocytes, and stimulates the production of IL-10. The inhibitory effect of DAP on the MMPs is partially regulated by the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT, MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways. The effect of DAP on OA may be attributed to the suppression of inflammatory factor secretion, chondrocyte apoptosis observed by the decrease in pro-apoptotic Caspase-3 and BAX, and the activation of anti-apoptotic BCL-2. SIGNIFICANCE: DAP has a broad range of prospects in the treatment of OA, which provides a novel therapeutic strategy for OA.