Korean J Intern Med.  2014 Sep;29(5):647-655. 10.3904/kjim.2014.29.5.647.

SKI306X inhibition of glycosaminoglycan degradation in human cartilage involves down-regulation of cytokine-induced catabolic genes

• Choi CH
• Kim TH
• Sung YK
• Choi CB
• Na YI
• Yoo H
• Jun JB

• KMID: 1794630
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2014.29.5.647

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
SKI306X, a mixed extract of three herbs, Clematis mandshurica (CM), Prunella vulgaris (PV), and Trichosanthes kirilowii (TK), is chondroprotective in animal models of osteoarthritis (OA). The objectives of this study were to investigate its effect on interleukin (IL)-1beta-induced degradation of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and the basis of its action in human OA cartilage, as well as to screen for the presence of inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4 in SKI306X and its component herbs, as well as in fractions from SKI306X.
METHODS
Human OA chondrocytes and cartilage explants were obtained during total knee replacements and incubated with IL-1beta +/- oncostatin M with or without SKI306X or its component herb extracts. GAG degradation was assayed in cartilage explants using a commercial kit. Expression of genes involved in cartilage destruction was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction using chondrocyte RNA. SKI306X was fractionated by preparative liquid chromatography to test for the presence of inhibitors of MMP-13 and ADAMTS-4.
RESULTS
SKI306X and PV inhibited IL-1beta-induced GAG release from cartilage explants, and SKI306X, CM, PV, and TK inhibited IL-1beta-induced MMP gene expression. Unexpectedly, SKI306X greatly stimulated IL-1beta + oncostatin M-induced ADAMTS-4 gene expression, probably due to its TK component. Some fractions of SKI306X also inhibited ADAMTS-4 activity.
CONCLUSIONS
SKI306X and its herbal components inhibit GAG degradation and catabolic gene expression in human OA chondrocytes and cartilage explants. SKI306X likely also contains one or more ADAMTS-4 inhibitor.

Keyword

Aggrecanase; Cartilage; Matrix metalloproteinase; Osteoarthritis; SKI306X

MeSH Terms

ADAM Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
Cartilage, Articular/*drug effects/*metabolism
Cells, Cultured
Chondrocytes/drug effects/metabolism
Down-Regulation/drug effects
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/*pharmacology
Glycosaminoglycans/*metabolism
Humans
Interleukin-1beta/metabolism
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/metabolism
Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors/pharmacology
Oncostatin M/metabolism
Osteoarthritis, Knee/drug therapy/genetics/metabolism
Procollagen N-Endopeptidase/antagonists & inhibitors
ADAM Proteins
Drugs, Chinese Herbal
Glycosaminoglycans
Interleukin-1beta
Matrix Metalloproteinase 13
Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors
Oncostatin M
Procollagen N-Endopeptidase