REGULATING EFFECTS OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR β ON GENE EXPRESSION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE 13 mRNA IN HUMAN HYALINE CHONDROCYTES

Objective To investigate the role of transforming growth factor β(TGF-β)in the regulation of the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 13(MMP-13)in the human hyaline chondrocytes. Methods The human hyaline chondrocytes harvested enzymatically and cultured in DMEM supplemented with 20% fetus calf serum were divided into 7 groups. Group 1 was used as a contol, and 1 ng/ml TGF-β(group 2), 10 ng/ml TGF-β(group 3), 100 ng/ml TGF-β(group 4), 1 ng/ml TGF-β+10 ng/ml IL-1β(group 5), 10 ng/ml TGF-β+10 ng/ml IL-1β(group 6),and 100 ng/ml TGF-β+10 ng/ml IL-1β(group 7) were given for 12-hour coculture. The MMP-13 mRNA levels of passaged human hyaline chondrocytes were assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Results TGF-β can increase the MMP-13 mRNA level respectively in the passaged hyaline chondrocytes. In the multi-factor treated groups, TGF-β can decrease the MMP-13 mRNA level respectively and there was significant difference between groups (P0-05).The level of MMP-13 mRNA expression had significant coherence with the dosage of TGF-β. Conclusion The above results show that human chondrocytes express MMP-13 mRNA. TGF-β could cause a dose-dependent stimulation on MMP-13 gene expression in human chondrocytes and have a potent effect of antagonizing IL-1β in osteoarthritis. TGF-β may play a crucial role in the occurrence and development of osteoarthritis through regulating MMP-13.