Protective effects of interleukin-4 on tissue destruction and morphological changes of bovine nasal chondrocytes in vitro

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have shown that some cytokines have protective effects on cartilage in joint diseases. In the current study, effects of IL-4 against morphological changes and tissue degradation induced by IL-1 Alpha on bovine nasal cartilage [BNC] explants were investigated. Fresh BNC samples were prepared from a slaughterhouse under sterile conditions. BNC explants culture was treated with both IL-l Alpha [10 ng/ml] and IL-4 [50 ng/ml] at the same time for 28 days. The morphological characteristics of explants were assessed by using histology techniques and invert microscopy. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 [MMP-1] production was assessed within different days by using Western blotting. IL-l Alpha induced prominent cartilage morphology degradation. The pro and active form of MMP-1 band substantially increased at day 21 of culture. In the presence of both IL-l Alpha and IL-4, chondrocytes preserved their ordinary normal phenotype with intact extracellular matrix. In addition, a significant reduction in pro-MMP-1and inhibition of active MMP-1 was seen. In conclusion, IL-4 could be regarded as a potential candidate in cartilage protecting against the degradation changes of IL-l Alpha. It seems that the preservation effect of IL-4 is associated with significant reduction of MMP-1