Chen Y, Pan X, Zhao J, Li C, Lin Y, Wang Y, Liu X, Tian M. Icariin alleviates osteoarthritis through PI3K/Akt/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway.
Eur J Med Res 2022;
27:204. [PMID:
36253872 PMCID:
PMC9575285 DOI:
10.1186/s40001-022-00820-x]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study aims to investigate the effects of Icariin (ICA) on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) and its potential mechanism of action.
METHODS
SW1353 chondrocytes were pretreated with ICA for 2 h, followed by stimulation with IL-1β to mimic OA. Expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-3) and collagen II were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot assays. Autophagy activation (by ICA) or inhibition (by shRNA) was determined based on the expression levels of ULK1, Beclin-1, LC3-II/I, and p62, using Western blot analysis. The phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt, mTOR, and ULK1 were also detected using Western blot analysis.
RESULTS
IL-1β increased MMP-3 overproduction, induced collagen II degradation, and reduced the level of autophagy-associated proteins, including ULK1, Beclin-1, and LC3-II/I. In contrast, ICA pretreatment attenuated IL-1β-induced MMP-3 overproduction, increased collagen II expression, and induced expression of autophagy-related proteins. ICA also decreased PI3K, Akt, and mTOR phosphorylation, increased the production of ULK1, and induced autophagy. Short hairpin RNA-mediated knockdown of ULK1 led to activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which reversed the protective effects of ICA.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that ICA can induce autophagy by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway. This study suggests that ICA may be effective for treating OA.
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