Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (bmp-7) stimulates Proteoglycan synthesis in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes in vitro

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 60; no. 10; pp. 639 - 643
• Main Authors: Stöve, J., Schneider-Wald, B., Scharf, H.-P., Schwarz, M.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier SAS 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Aged; Aggrecans - genetics; Aggrecans - metabolism; Alginates - chemistry; Articular cartilage; BMP-7; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - pharmacology; Cells, Cultured; Chondrocytes - drug effects; Chondrocytes - metabolism; Chondrocytes - pathology; Culture Media, Serum-Free - pharmacology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Gene Expression - drug effects; Glucuronic Acid - chemistry; Hexuronic Acids - chemistry; Humans; Microspheres; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis, Knee - pathology; Proteoglycans - biosynthesis; Proteoglycans - genetics; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Stimulation of chondrocytes; Time Factors; Transforming Growth Factor beta - pharmacology; Articular cartilage; BMP-7; Stimulation of chondrocytes
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2006.09.001

BMP-7 is a member of the TGF-β superfamily which is supposed to be one of the most potent anabolic factors of chondrocytes. In this study we analysed the effect of BMP-7 on three dimensional cultured chondrocytes with and without serum. Cartilage samples from fourteen patients with osteoarthritis of the knee were harvested and chondrocytes were cultivated in alginate-beads with and without serum supplementation (10% FCS). BMP-7 was added in three different concentrations (200, 600 and 1000 ng/ml). After 4 and 21 days PG concentration was determined by a Blyscan-Assay. For gene expression analysis of aggrecan (AGG) quantitative Lightcycler-PCR was used to estimate the mRNA levels. Under serumfree culture conditions there was no stimulation after 4 days but there was a twofold increase of PG concentration after 21 days. Using BMP-7 together with serum supplemented medium we found comparable results, however not as pronounced. AGG expression was increased only after 4 days but not after 21 days. Beside a stimulatory effect under serumfree conditions we also found a stimulatory effect of BMP-7 in the presence of serum. This study pronounces that BMP-7 might be a suitable anabolic activator of osteoarthritic chondrocytes.