Anti-arthritic actions of β-cryptoxanthin against the degradation of articular cartilage in vivo and in vitro

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications Vol. 476; no. 4; pp. 352 - 358
• Main Authors: Imada, Keisuke, Tsuchida, Ayana, Ogawa, Kazunori, Sofat, Nidhi, Nagase, Hideaki, Ito, Akira, Sato, Takashi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 05.08.2016
• Subjects: ADAMTS4 Protein - genetics; ADAMTS4 Protein - metabolism; ADAMTS5 Protein - genetics; ADAMTS5 Protein - metabolism; Aggrecanase; Aggrecans - metabolism; Animals; Antirheumatic Agents - pharmacology; Arthritis, Experimental - drug therapy; Beta-Cryptoxanthin - pharmacology; Carotenoid; Cartilage, Articular - drug effects; Cartilage, Articular - pathology; Cells, Cultured; Chondrocytes; Chondrocytes - drug effects; Chondrocytes - metabolism; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Extracellular matrix; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Humans; Organ Culture Techniques; Osteoarthritis; Rats, Inbred Lew; Rheumatoid arthritis; Swine; Synovial Fluid - cytology; Extracellular matrix; Aggrecanase; Osteoarthritis; Carotenoid; Rheumatoid arthritis; Chondrocytes
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.05.126

An inverse correlation between the morbidity of rheumatoid arthritis and daily intake of β-cryptoxanthin has been epidemiologically shown. In this study, we investigated the effects of β-cryptoxanthin on the metabolism of cartilage extracellular matrix in vivo and in vitro. Oral administration of β-cryptoxanthin (0.1–1 mg/kg) to antigen-induced arthritic rats suppressed the loss of glycosaminoglycans in articular cartilage, which is accompanied by the interference of aggrecanase-mediated degradation of aggrecan. Inhibition of the interleukin 1α (IL-1α)-induced aggrecan degradation by β-cryptoxanthin was also observed with porcine articular cartilage explants in culture. β-Cryptoxanthin (1–10 μM) dose-dependently down-regulated the IL-1α-induced gene expression of aggrecanase 1 (ADAMTS-4) and aggrecanase 2 (ADAMTS-5) in cultured human chondrocytes. Moreover, β-cryptoxanthin was found to augment the gene expression of aggrecan core protein in chondrocytes. These results provide novel evidence that β-cryptoxanthin exerts anti-arthritic actions and suggest that β-cryptoxanthin may be useful in blocking the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. [Display omitted] •β-Cryptoxanthin blocks the aggrecan degradation in cartilage by decreasing aggrecanase activity in vivo.•β-Cryptoxanthin down-regulates the expression of aggrecanase 1 (ADAMTS-4) and aggrecanase 2 (ADAMTS-5) in human chondrocytes.•β-Cryptoxanthin augments the expression of aggrecan core protein in human chondrocytes.