Design of group IIA secreted/synovial phospholipase A(2) inhibitors: an oxadiazolone derivative suppresses chondrocyte prostaglandin E(2) secretion.

Group IIA secreted/synovial phospholipase A(2) (GIIAPLA(2)) is an enzyme involved in the synthesis of eicosanoids such as prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), the main eicosanoid contributing to pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. We designed, by molecular modeling, 7 novel analogs of 3-{4-[5(indol-1-yl)pentoxy]benzyl}-4H-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-one, denoted C1, an inhibitor of the GIIAPLA(2) enzyme. We report the results of molecular dynamics studies of the complexes between these derivatives and GIIAPLA(2), along with their chemical synthesis and results from PLA(2) inhibition tests. Modeling predicted some derivatives to display greater GIIAPLA(2) affinities than did C1, and such predictions were confirmed by in vitro PLA(2) enzymatic tests. Compound C8, endowed with the most favorable energy balance, was shown experimentally to be the strongest GIIAPLA(2) inhibitor. Moreover, it displayed an anti-inflammatory activity on rabbit articular chondrocytes, as shown by its capacity to inhibit IL-1beta-stimulated PGE(2) secretion in these cells. Interestingly, it did not modify the COX-1 to COX-2 ratio. C8 is therefore a potential candidate for anti-inflammatory therapy in joints.

Pharmacologic induction of heme oxygenase 1 reduces acute inflammatory arthritis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the consequences of pharmacologic up-regulation of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and inhibition of HO-1 by injection of an anti-HO-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), in vivo in the acute phase of a mouse model of nonautoimmune arthritis. METHODS: In the K/BxN mouse serum transfer model, which mimics human inflammatory arthritis without lymphocyte influence, HO-1 was up-regulated by intraperitoneal injection of cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), a potent pharmacologic inducer, and was inhibited using a specific siRNA. The clinical progress of arthritis was monitored by measurement of paw thickness. Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), serum antioxidant, and nitric oxide (NO) levels, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production, and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) activity were measured in serum. At the end of the experiments, joints were examined for immunohistopathologic changes. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal injection of CoPP alleviated disease symptoms, such as joint swelling, cartilage degradation, and proliferation of inflammatory tissue in joints, in the acute phase of inflammatory arthritis. The CoPP-induced expression of HO-1 in the joints and liver was associated with marked decreases in IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNFalpha levels, PGE(2) secretion, and MMP-9 activity in serum, and with a marked increase in systemic antioxidant activity. In contrast, NO production in serum and inducible NO synthase expression in chondrocytes were not affected by HO-1 induction. Specific inhibition of HO-1 by in vivo delivery of anti-HO-1 siRNA repressed the protective effects. CONCLUSION: Our data provide the first evidence that pharmacologically induced up-regulation of HO-1 triggers a robust protective antiinflammatory response in a model of nonautoimmune arthritis in mice. This suggests that exogenously induced HO-1 may have potential as therapy in the acute phase of inflammatory arthritis in humans.

Modulation of proteoglycan production by cyclic tensile stretch in intervertebral disc cells through a post-translational mechanism.

Proteoglycan production is one of the major extracellular matrix components implicated in the dynamic process of intervertebral disc degeneration. Mechanical stress is an important modulator of the degeneration, but the underlying molecular mechanism at the proteoglycan level remains unclear. The aim of this work was to study the regulation of proteoglycan production by cyclic tensile stretch applied to intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus cells. Matrix metalloproteinases do not seem to be implicated in the regulation of proteoglycan production. By contrast, nitrite oxide production is induced by cyclic tensile stretch, in a time, intensity, and frequency dependant manner. Using a non-specific nitric oxide synthases inhibitor [NG-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMA)], we suppress totally the inhibition of proteoglycan production induced by cyclic tensile stretch suggesting the implication of nitric oxide synthases in the observed phenomenon. Introducing the transcriptional inhibitor 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole or a more specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases II [N-iminoethyl-L-lysine (L-NIL)] did not affect the decreased proteoglycan production, which suggests a post-translational regulation. In contrast, N-omega nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) a more specific inhibitor of NOS I and III abrogated the cyclic tensile stretch-dependant inhibition of proteoglycan production. These results suggest that cyclic tensile stretch regulates proteoglycan production through a post-translational mechanism involving nitrite oxide. This result could be of interest in the development of local therapeutic strategies aimed at controlling intervertebral disc degeneration.

Activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha pathway potentiates interleukin-1 receptor antagonist production in cytokine-treated chondrocytes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) agonists protect chondrocytes against the effects of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). METHODS: PPARalpha expression and function in cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes were studied by Northern blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and transient expression of a luciferase reporter construct bearing the human IL-1 receptor antagonist (Il-1Ra) gene promoter. Chondrocytes were incubated in vitro with IL-1beta alone or in combination with CloFibrate (CloF) or other PPAR ligands. Proteoglycans were evaluated by 35S-sulfate incorporation, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels were assessed by zymography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and MMP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured by Northern blotting and real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. IL-1beta and IL-1Ra soluble contents were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: CloF counteracted IL-1beta-induced 35S-proteoglycan degradation, gelatinolytic activity, and MMP-1, -3, and -13 mRNA expression. CloF also maximized IL-1beta-induced endogenous production of soluble IL-1Ra (sIL-1Ra). This stimulating effect on IL-1Ra gene expression was shown, by transient expression assay, to be transcriptional. Inhibition of sIL-1Ra expression by a specific small interfering RNA suppressed the effect of CloF on IL-1beta-induced MMP expression. The stimulatory effect of CloF was enhanced by cotransfection with wild-type PPARalpha and abolished by a dominant-negative PPARalpha mutant. Fenofibrate and WY-14643 displayed a similar stimulating effect on the IL-1Ra promoter, while rosiglitazone did not. Two PPAR response elements, an NF-kappaB-binding site, and a CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-binding site were identified in the IL-1Ra promoter. All 4 sites were necessary for mediation of the effects of CloF. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the notion that there is a PPARalpha-dependent mechanism that inhibits IL-1beta function in chondrocytes, which operates via an increase in sIL-1Ra production.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma down-regulates chondrocyte matrix metalloproteinase-1 via a novel composite element.

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) induces degradation via hyperexpression of an array of genes, including metalloproteinases (MMP), in cartilage cells during articular degenerative diseases. In contrast, natural ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) display protective anti-cytokine effects in these cells. We used the PPAR agonist rosiglitazone (Rtz) to investigate PPAR-gamma isotype on IL-1beta-target genes. Immunocytochemistry, electrophoretic mobility shift, and transient transfection assays revealed a functional PPAR-gamma in chondrocytes in vitro. Rtz displayed significant inhibition of IL-1beta effects in chondrocytes. Low Rtz concentrations (close to K(d) values for PPAR-gamma, 0.1 to 1 microm) inhibited the effects of IL-1beta on (35)S-sulfated proteoglycan production and gelatinolytic activities and downregulated MMP1 expression at mRNA and protein levels. We have investigated the mechanism of action of Rtz against IL-1beta-mediated MMP1 gene hyperexpression. Rtz effect occurs at the transcriptional level of the MMP1 promoter, as observed in transiently transfected cells with pMMP1-luciferase vector. Transient expression of wild type PPAR-gamma enhanced Rtz inhibitory effect in chondrocytes, whereas a mutated dominant negative PPAR-gamma abolished it, supporting the role of PPAR-gamma in this effect. MMP1 gene promoter analysis revealed the involvement of a cis-acting element located at -83 to -77, shown to be a composite PPRE/AP1 site. Gel mobility and supershift assays demonstrated that PPAR-gamma and c-Fos/c-Jun proteins bind this cis-acting element in a mutually exclusive way. Our data highlight a new PPAR-gamma-dependent inhibitory mechanism on IL-1beta-mediated cartilage degradation occurring through DNA binding competition on the composite PPRE/AP1 site in the MMP1 promoter.