Effects of regenerative radioelectric asymmetric conveyer treatment on human normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β. A biochemical and morphological study

• Published in: Clinical interventions in aging 2013-01, Vol.8, p.309-316
• Main Authors: Collodel, Giulia, Fioravanti, Antonella, Pascarelli, Nicola Antonio, Lamboglia, Antonello, Fontani, Vania, Maioli, Margherita, Santaniello, Sara, Pigliaru, Gianfranco, Castagna, Alessandro, Moretti, Elena, Iacoponi, Francesca, Rinaldi, Salvatore, Ventura, Carlo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aging - physiology; Care and treatment; Cartilage cells; Cartilage, Articular - metabolism; Chondrocytes - metabolism; Cytokines; Electric Stimulation; Extracellular Matrix - metabolism; Female; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Health aspects; human chondrocytes ultrastructure; Humans; Immunoassay; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-1beta - pharmacology; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 - biosynthesis; metalloproteinase; Metalloproteins; Morphology; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Original Research; Osteoarthritis; Osteoarthritis - metabolism; Proteoglycans; Proteoglycans - biosynthesis; Radio Waves; Radiotherapy; REAC TO-RGN treatment; Regenerative medicine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Statistics, Nonparametric
• ISSN: 1178-1998; 1176-9092; 1178-1998
• DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S42229

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by a progressive loss of articular cartilage extracellular matrix and is due to functional impairments occurring in chondrocytes. In previous works, we highlighted that Regenerative Tissue Optimization (TO-RGN) treatment with radioelectric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology influenced the gene expression profiles controlling stem cell differentiation and the pluripotency of human skin-derived fibroblasts in vitro. Since interleukin-1 beta signaling has been implicated in the induction and progression of this disease (through metalloproteinase-3 synthesis and nitric oxide production), we investigated whether REAC TO-RGN might influence the biochemical and morphological changes induced by interleukin-1 beta in normal and OA chondrocytes. The induction of metalloproteinase-3 and proteoglycan synthesis was evaluated by a solid-phase enzyme-amplified sensitivity immunoassay, and nitric oxide production was evaluated with the Griess method. Ultrastructural features were observed by transmission electron microscopy. REAC TO-RGN treatment decreased nitric oxide and metalloproteinase-3 production in normal and OA chondrocytes, while inducing an increase in proteoglycan synthesis. OA chondrocytes were more affected by REAC TO-RGN treatment than were normal chondrocytes. Ultrastructural changes confirmed that REAC TO-RGN may counteract the negative effects of interleukin-1 beta incubation. The results of this in vitro study suggest that REAC TO-RGN treatment may represent a new, promising approach for the management of OA.