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Purified human plasma glycosaminoglycans reduced NF-B activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine production and apoptosis in LPS-treated chondrocytes

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy, gcampo{at}unime.it

Angela Avenoso

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Salvatore Campo

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Angela D'Ascola

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Paola Traina

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Dario Sama

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Alberto Calatroni

Department of Biochemical, Physiological and Nutritional Sciences, Section of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

Introduction: There have been several cases reporting a significant increase in chondroitin sulphate plasma levels in patients with different types of disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and liver disease. At present, the precise role of chondroitin sulphate molecules in blood is unclear. Previous investigations have shown that the addition of purified human plasma glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), containing a high percentage of chondroitin-4-sulphate (C4S) was able to inhibit lipid peroxidation and to protect cells from reactive oxygen species damage, suggesting antioxidant activity. Starting from these reports, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of GAG structures purified from normal human plasma in reducing inflammation using a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse articular chondrocyte cultures.

Results: Chondrocyte stimulation with LPS (50 µg/ml) for 24 h enhanced gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interferon gamma (IFN-), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and increases in their related protein levels, as well as NF-B activation, IB phosphorylation and apoptosis evaluated by the increase in caspase-3 expression and its related protein amount. LPS treatment also generated a high amount of nitric oxide (NO). The addition of different doses of purified human GAGs to LPSstimulated chondrocytes reduced inflammatory cytokines and iNOS both at mRNA and protein levels, blocked NF-B activation and cytoplasmic IB phosphorylation, limited cell death by inhibiting apoptosis, and reduced NO concentrations.

Conclusions: These results further support the hypothesis that plasma GAGs may function as immunomodulators and their increased release and degradation could be a biological response acting to modulate inflammation during disease.

Key Words: Chondroitin sulphate • chondrocytes • lipopolysaccharide • NF-?B • nitric oxide • inflammatory cytokines

Innate Immunity, Vol. 14, No. 4, 233-246 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1753425908094725


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