PPAR-γ ligands modulate effects of LPS in stimulated rat synovial fibroblasts

This work demonstrated the constitutive expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ and PPAR-α in rat synovial fibroblasts at both mRNA and protein levels. A decrease in PPAR-γ expression induced by 10 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was observed, whereas PPAR-α mRNA expression was not modified. 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin J2(15d-PGJ2) dose-dependently decreased LPS-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 (−80%) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression (−80%), whereas troglitazone (10 μM) only inhibited iNOS mRNA expression (−50%). 15d-PGJ2decreased LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-1β (−25%) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (−40%) expression. Interestingly, troglitazone strongly decreased TNF-α expression (−50%) but had no significant effect on IL-1β expression. 15d-PGJ2was able to inhibit DNA-binding activity of both nuclear factor (NF)-κB and AP-1. Troglitazone had no effect on NF-κB activation and was shown to increase LPS-induced AP-1 activation. 15d-PGJ2and troglitazone modulated the expression of LPS-induced iNOS, COX-2, and proinflammatory cytokines differently. Indeed, troglitazone seems to specifically target TNF-α and iNOS pathways. These results offer new insights in regard to the anti-inflammatory potential of the PPAR-γ ligands and underline different mechanisms of action of 15d-PGJ2and troglitazone in synovial fibroblasts.