Rabbit Anti-Human COL2A1 Polyclonal Antibody

Purpose: Chondrocyte extracellular matrix type II collagen and proteoglycans ensure an important compression-bearing structure in synovial joint. However, much more type I collagen is generated in osteoarthritis, which implies the presence of abnormal tensile strain in cartilage. We hypothesize that tensile stress influences chondrocyte phenotype at the cellular level, leading to potential osteoarthritis. Methods: Chondrocytes were stimulated with cyclic excessive tensile (10%) or mild tensile or compressive strain (5%) at 0.5 Hz, 3 h per day for 3 days. Chondrocyte morphology and matrix proteoglycans level was separately determined by Rhodamine phalloidin and toluldine blue staining. The expression of cartilage marker molecules was measured using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: Chondrocytes demonstrated significant fibroblastic morphology, reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis following exposure to 10% tensile strain. The 10% tensile strain group induced the lowest matrix proteoglycans level. It observably reduced the expression of COL2A1, Acan and SOX9, and increased COL1A1 expression level. The 5% tensile (5% compression) group, maintained the chondrocyte phenotype. Conclusions: The findings identified the effects of different magnitudes of tensile stress on chondrocyte phenotype compared to compressive strain. Further studies on cartilage biomechanical micro-environment might benefit from this study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is characterized by articular cartilage degradation and joint inflammation. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the role of the specific function of PRMT1 in chondrocytes and its association with the pathophysiology of OA. We observed that the expression of PRMT1 was apparently upregulated in OA cartilage, as well as in chondrocytes stimulated with IL-1 beta. Additionally, knockdown of PRMT1 suppressed interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta)-induced extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolic imbalance by regulating the expression of MMP-13, ADAMTS-5, COL2A1, and ACAN. Furthermore, silencing of PRMT1 dramatically declined the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide as well as the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Mechanistic analyses further revealed that IL-1 beta-induced activation of the Hedgehog/Gli-1 signaling is suppressed upon PRMT1 knockdown. However, the effects of inhibition of PRMT1-mediated IL-1 beta-induced cartilage matrix degradation and inflammatory response in OA chondrocytes were obviously abolished by Hedgehog agonist Purmorphamine (Pur). Our data collectively suggest that silencing of PRMT1 exerts anti-catabolic and anti-inflammatory effects on IL-1 beta-induced chondrocytes via suppressing the Gli-1 mediated Hedgehog signaling pathway, indicating that PRMT1 plays a critical role in OA development and serves as a promising therapeutic target for OA.