Beneficial effect of a sturgeon-based bioactive compound on gene expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, matrix metalloproteinases and type-10 collagen in human chondrocytes.

In the present study, we examined the effect of a marine bioactive compound containing high-purity caviar-derived DNA, collagen elastin and protein extracts from sturgeon (LD-1227, Caviarlieri, Laboratoires Dom, Switzerland) on IL beta -induced activation and production of TNF alpha and MMP-13 in human osteo-arthritis (OA) chondrocytes and intracellular signaling factors. Human chondrocytes were derived from OA cartilage and stimulated with IL beta. Gene expression of TNF alpha, MMP-13, MMP-1 and Col10A1 was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. TNF alpha protein in culture medium was determined using cytokine-specific ELISA. Western immunoblotting was used to analyze the MMP-13 production in the culture medium and the activation of NF-kappa B. DNA binding activity of NF-kappa B p65 was determined using a highly sensitive and specific ELISA. MMP-13 activity in the culture medium was assayed by gelatine zymography. LD-1227 significantly decreased IL beta-stimulated gene expression and production of TNF alpha, MMP-1, MMP-13 and Col10A1 in human chondrocytes. The inhibitory effect of LD-1227 on the IL beta-induced expression of these genes was mediated at least in part via suppression of NF-kappa B p65. These data show that LD-1227 can inhibit IL-1 beta-induced proliferation and inflammatory reactions via inhibited activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B pathway in human chondrocytes derived from OA patients. These novel pharmacological actions of LD-1227 on IL beta-stimulated human OA chondrocytes provide suggestions that this marine biology compound may inhibit cartilage degradation by suppressing IL beta-mediated activation and the catabolic response in human chondrocytes.