Synergy between adiponectin and interleukin-1beta on the expression of interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and cyclooxygenase-2 in fibroblast-like synoviocytes

ABSTRACT

To determine whether adiponectin may have synergistic effects in combination with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1beta regarding the production of proinflammatory mediators during arthritic joint inflammation, synovial cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients were treated with adiponectin, IL-1beta, and their combination for 24 h. Culture supernatant was collected and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for levels of IL-6, IL-8, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Adiponectin-mediated intracellular signaling pathways were investigated to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying their synergy. The association of proinflammatory mediators with adiponectin was investigated in the synovial fluid of arthritis patients. Adiponectin functioned synergistically with IL-1beta to activate IL-6, IL-8, and PGE2 expression in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes; Levels of VEGF, MMP-1, and MMP-13 were not synergistically stimulated. Adiponectin and IL-1beta each increased the expression of both adiponectin receptor 1 and IL-1 receptor 1. However, adiponectin and IL-1beta did not synergistically support the degradation of IkappaB-alpha or the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. Synergistically increased gene expression was significantly inhibited by MG132, an NF-kappaB inhibitor. Supporting the in vitro results, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were positively associated with adiponectin in synovial joint fluid from patients with RA, but not osteoarthritis (OA). In conclusion, adiponectin and IL-1beta may synergistically stimulate the production of proinflammatory mediators through unknown signaling pathways during arthritic joint inflammation. Adiponectin may be more important to the pathogenesis of RA than previously thought.