Effects of Ceramide on Apoptosis, Proteoglycan Degradation, and Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Rabbit Articular Cartilage

• Published in: Biochemical and biophysical research communications 2000-01, Vol.267 (1), p.438-444
• Main Authors: Sabatini, Massimo, Rolland, Gaëlle, Léonce, Stéphane, Thomas, Marie, Lesur, Christophe, Pérez, Valérie, de Nanteuil, Guillaume, Bonnet, Jacqueline
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Annexin A5 - metabolism; Apoptosis - drug effects; Apoptosis - physiology; Cartilage, Articular - cytology; Cartilage, Articular - drug effects; Cartilage, Articular - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Ceramides - pharmacology; Collagenases - genetics; Interleukin-1 - pharmacology; Kinetics; Male; Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; Matrix Metalloproteinases - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinases - metabolism; Phenylalanine - analogs & derivatives; Phenylalanine - pharmacology; Protease Inhibitors - pharmacology; Proteoglycans - metabolism; Rabbits; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase - metabolism; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase - pharmacology; Sphingosine - analogs & derivatives; Sphingosine - pharmacology; Thiophenes - pharmacology; Transcription, Genetic - drug effects
• ISSN: 0006-291X; 1090-2104
• DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.1983

Cartilage loss in osteoarthritis is characterized by matrix degradation and chondrocyte death. The lipid messenger ceramide is implicated in signal transduction of the catabolic cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), as well as in apoptosis. The aim of this study was to examine the in vitro effects of ceramide on proteoglycan degradation, matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and activity, and chondrocyte apoptosis in rabbit articular cartilage. Cell-permeant ceramide C2 stimulated proteoglycan degradation in cartilage explants starting from 3 × 10−5 M, with 100% increase at the dose of 10−4 M. This effect was probably due to MMPs since it was blocked by the MMP inhibitor batimastat. Furthermore, in isolated chondrocytes, C2 stimulated the expression of MMP-1, 3, and 13 at the mRNA level, MMP activity, and MMP-3 production. Ceramide also caused chondrocyte apoptosis at doses ranging from 10−5 to 10−4 M. This study supports the hypothesis that ceramide might play a mediatory role in both matrix degradation and apoptosis in processes of cartilage loss such as those observed in osteoarthritis.