MicroRNA-128-3p suppresses interleukin-1ß-stimulated cartilage degradation and chondrocyte apoptosis via targeting zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 in osteoarthritis.

Accumulating studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play vital roles in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Nevertheless, the specific function of miR-128-3p in OA remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that miR-128-3p was decreased and ZEB1 was increased in OA. Additionally, miR-128-3p expression was negatively correlated with ZEB1. miR-128-3p overexpression or ZEB1 silencing attenuated extracellular matrix degradation and cell apoptosis, and increased the proliferation of IL-1ß-activated CHON-001 cells. Furthermore, ZEB1 was directly targeted by miR-128-3p. In addition, ZEB1 upregulation restored the effects of miR-128-3p overexpression on OA progression. Overall, our findings suggested that miR-128-3p might regulate the development of OA via targeting ZEB1.

Up-regulated expression of E2F2 is necessary for p16INK4a-induced cartilage injury.

BACKGROUND: Cartilage degradation would result in osteoarthritis (OA). p16INK4awas found in some age-related diseases. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of p16INK4a during OA and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to test the activity of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to determine the expressions of target genes. RESULTS: The increased expressions of p16INK4a and E2F2 were accompanied with cartilage degradation induced by IL-1ß. Over-expression of p16INK4a enhanced the secretion of SASP markers (TGFß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1α, MMP3 and MMP13), reduced the expression of type II procollagen (COL2A1).Thus, the over-expression of p16INK4a lead to cartilage injury. Moreover, we found that the expression of E2F2 was enhanced in p16INK4a over-expression group, and that cartilage injury caused by p16INK4a was alleviated by depleting E2F2. CONCLUSIONS: p16INK4a was up-regulated during the cartilage injury in OA. p16INK4a promoted cartilage injury by increasing the expression of E2F2. Thus, this study extends the molecular regulation network for understanding pathological progression of OA, and provides potential therapeutic target for OA.

Bay11-7082 attenuates neuropathic pain via inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B and nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 inflammasome activation in dorsal root ganglions in a rat model of lumbar disc herniation.

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is an important cause of radiculopathy, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Many studies suggested that local inflammation, rather than mechanical compression, results in radiculopathy induced by LDH. On the molecular and cellular level, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome have been implicated in the regulation of neuroinflammation formation and progression. In this study, the autologous nucleus pulposus (NP) was implanted in the left L5 dorsal root ganglion (DRG) to mimic LDH in rats. We investigated the expression of NF-κB and the components of NLRP3 inflammasome in the DRG neurons in rats. Western blotting and immunofluorescence for the related molecules, including NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing caspase-1 activator domain (ASC), caspase-1, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-18, IκBα, p-IκBα, p65, p-p65, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were examined. In the NP-treated group, the activations of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1ß, IL-18, p-IκBα, and p-p65 in DRG neurons in rats were elevated at 1 day after surgery, and the peak occurred at 7 days. Treatment with Bay11-7082, an inhibitor of the actions of IKK-ß, was able to inhibit expression and activation of the molecules (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, IL-1ß, IL-18, p-IκBα, and p-p65) and relieve the pain in rats. Our study shows that NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome are involved in the maintenance of NP-induced pain, and that Bay11-7082 could alleviate mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia by inhibiting NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Wnt5a promotes migration of human osteosarcoma cells by triggering a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt signals.

Wnt5a is classified as a non-transforming Wnt family member and plays complicated roles in oncogenesis and cancer metastasis. However, Wnt5a signaling in osteosarcoma progression remains poorly defined. In this study, we found that Wnt5a stimulated the migration of human osteosarcoma cells (MG-63), with the maximal effect at 100 ng/ml, via enhancing phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt. PI3K and Akt showed visible signs of basal phosphorylation and elevated phosphorylation at 15 min after stimulation with Wnt5a. Pharmaceutical inhibition of PI3K with LY294002 significantly blocked the Wnt5a-induced activation of Akt (p-Ser473) and decreased Wnt5a-induced cell migration. Akt siRNA remarkably inhibited Wnt5a-induced cell migration. Additionally, Wnt5a does not alter the total expression and phosphorylation of ß-catenin in MG-63 cells. Taken together, we demonstrated for the first time that Wnt5a promoted osteosarcoma cell migration via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These findings could provide a rationale for designing new therapy targeting osteosarcoma metastasis.