Protective effect of atorvastatin in cultured osteoarthritic chondrocytes

• DOI: 10.1002/jor.20953
• Publication Date: 2009-07-21T19:38:16Z
• Authors: Theodora Simopoulou; Konstantinos N. M...; Lazaros Poultsides; Aspasia Tsezou
• Keywords: Aggrecan; Geranylgeraniol

Abstract The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro effect an HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitor, atorvastatin, on expression significant anabolic and catabolic genes human osteoarthritic chondrocytes explore metabolic pathways involved this process. Human articular were cultured presence absence atorvastatin (10 50 µmol/L) for 24 h. Metalloproteinase 13 (MMP‐13), collagen type II (COL2A1), aggrecan (AGC) mRNA levels evaluated by real‐time PCR, protein Western blot analysis. IL‐1β culture medium analyzed with ELISA. treatment mevalonate isoprenoid derivatives farnesol geranylgeraniol, or cholesterol precursor squalene, chondrocyte cultures. Incubation cultures produced a dose‐dependent reduction production. Atorvastatin supplementation decrease MMP‐13 levels, which reversed addition farnesol. Regarding AGC COL2A1 expression, increase observed only treated µmol/L atorvastatin. Our findings suggest that may have potential chondroprotective effects mostly reducing cartilage degradation. © 2009 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:110–115, 2010