calpain and Arthritis

Pro-inflammatory cytokines induce meniscal matrix degradation and inhibition of endogenous repair mechanisms, but the pathogenic mechanisms behind this are mostly unknown. Therefore, we investigated details of interleukin-1 (IL-1alpha)-induced aggrecan turnover in mature meniscal tissue explants. Fibro-cartilagenous disks (3 mm diameter x 1 mm thickness) were isolated from the central, weight-bearing region of menisci from 2-year-old cattle. After 3 or 6 days of IL-1alpha-treatment, GAG loss (DMMB assay), biosynthetic activity ([(35)SO(4)]-sulfate and [(3)H]-proline incorporation), gene expression (quantitative RT-PCR) and the abundance (zymography, Western blot) of matrix-degrading enzymes and specific aggrecan products were determined. Meniscal fibrocartilage had a 4-fold lower GAG content (per wet weight) than adjacent articular cartilage, and expressed MMPs-1, -2, -3 and ADAMTS4 constitutively, whereas ADAMTS5 m-RNA was essentially undetectable. Significant IL-1 effects were a decrease in biosynthetic activity, an increase in GAG release and in the expression/abundance of MMP-2, MMP-3 and ADAMTS4. Fresh tissue contained aggrecan core protein products similar to those previously described for bovine articular cartilage of this age. IL-1 induced the release of aggrecanase-generated CS-substituted products including both high (>250 kDa) and low molecular weight (about 75 kDa) species. TIMP-3 (but not TIMP-1 and -2 or a broad spectrum MMP inhibitor) inhibited IL-1-dependent GAG loss. In addition, IL-1 induced the release of preformed pools of three known G1-bearing products. We conclude that aggrecanases are responsible for IL-1-stimulated GAG release from meniscal explants, and that IL-1 also stimulates release of G1-bearing products, by a process possibly involving hyaluronan fragmentation.

Topics: ADAM Proteins; ADAMTS4 Protein; Aggrecans; Animals; Arthritis; Calpain; Cattle; Endopeptidases; Extracellular Matrix; Glycosaminoglycans; Hyaluronic Acid; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-1alpha; Matrix Metalloproteinases; Menisci, Tibial; Models, Biological; Procollagen N-Endopeptidase; RNA, Messenger; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3

To study the roles of calpains in the synovial joint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) and to verify the hypothesis that calpains present in the synovial fluid come from the synovium.. We performed immunohistochemical, biochemical, and immunoblotting analyses for calpains in synovial tissues, synovial cell cultures, and synovial fluids.. Immunohistochemical staining of RA synovium demonstrated specific cytoplasmic staining of cells in the synovial lining layer, storomal fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. OA synovium showed almost the same intensity and distribution of calpain staining. DEAE-cellulose chromatography of RA and OA synovial extracts and synovial fluids showed a peak of caseinolytic activity attributable to calpain, as well as an inhibitory peak of calpastatin, a specific inhibitor protein of calpains. Immunoblotting using the anticalpain antibody from the calpain peak of RA and OA synovium and synovial fluid showed identity with the heavy subunit of calpain (80 kd). Similarly, calpain existed in the same form (80 kd) in conditioned media (supernatant) obtained from synovial cell cultures, as well as in the synoviocytes. The total specific activity of the 2 calpains in the synovial fluid of RA patients was higher than that of calpastatin.. The findings suggest that the extracellular appearance of calpains could be due to the secretion of these proteins from the synovial cells and that calpains may play a role in cartilage damage of RA and OA that occurs in synovial joints.

Topics: Arthritis; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Calcium; Calpain; Cells, Cultured; Hip Joint; Humans; Immunoblotting; Immunohistochemistry; Knee Joint; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; Osteoarthritis; Synovial Fluid; Synovial Membrane; Tissue Distribution