Identification of the Resveratrol Potential Targets in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis

Identification of therapeutic targets in osteoarthritis by combining heterogeneous transcriptional datasets, drug-induced expression profiles, and known drug-target interactions

BACKGROUND

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial, hypertrophic, and degenerative condition involving the whole joint and affecting a high percentage of middle-aged people. It is due to a combination of factors, although the pivotal mechanisms underlying the disease are still obscure. Moreover, current treatments are still poorly effective, and patients experience a painful and degenerative disease course.

METHODS

We used an integrative approach that led us to extract a consensus signature from a meta-analysis of three different OA cohorts. We performed a network-based drug prioritization to detect the most relevant drugs targeting these genes and validated in vitro the most promising candidates. We also proposed a risk score based on a minimal set of genes to predict the OA clinical stage from RNA-Seq data.

RESULTS

We derived a consensus signature of 44 genes that we validated on an independent dataset. Using network analysis, we identified Resveratrol, Tenoxicam, Benzbromarone, Pirinixic Acid, and Mesalazine as putative drugs of interest for therapeutics in OA for anti-inflammatory properties. We also derived a list of seven gene-targets validated with functional RT-qPCR assays, confirming the in silico predictions. Finally, we identified a predictive subset of genes composed of DNER, TNFSF11, THBS3, LOXL3, TSPAN2, DYSF, ASPN and HTRA1 to compute the patient's risk score. We validated this risk score on an independent dataset with a high AUC (0.875) and compared it with the same approach computed using the entire consensus signature (AUC 0.922).

CONCLUSIONS

The consensus signature highlights crucial mechanisms for disease progression. Moreover, these genes were associated with several candidate drugs that could represent potential innovative therapeutics. Furthermore, the patient's risk scores can be used in clinical settings.

Exploration of the potential mechanism of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in osteoarthritis treatment by using network pharmacology and molecular dynamics simulation

In this study, the active ingredients of 15 Chinese herbal medicines of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction and their corresponding targets were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. The microarray data of Osteoarthritis (OA) were obtained through the GEO database for differential analysis and then a drug target-OA-related gene protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established. The potential targets of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in the treatment of OA were acquired by intersecting the OA-associated genes with the target genes of active ingredients. Random walk with restart (RWR) analysis of PPI networks was performed using potential targets as seed, and the top 50 genes of affinity coefficients were used as key action genes of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in the treatment of OA. A drug-active ingredient-gene interaction network was established. AKT1, a key target of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in the treatment of OA, was obtained by topological analysis of the gene interaction network. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics verified the binding of AKT1 to its corresponding drug active ingredients. CETSA assay demonstrated that the combination of luteolin and AKT1 increased the stability of AKT1, and the combination efficiency was high. In conclusion, the molecular mechanism of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in treating OA featured by multiple components, targets, and pathways had been further investigated in this study, which is of significance for discovering as well as developing new drugs for this disease. The findings can also offer personalized diagnosis and treatment strategies for patients with OA in clinical practice.

Resveratrol Improves the Progression of Osteoarthritis by Regulating the SIRT1-FoxO1 Pathway-Mediated Cholesterol Metabolism

Osteoarthritis (OA) is considered a metabolic disorder. This study investigated the effect of resveratrol (RES) on cholesterol accumulation in osteoarthritic articular cartilage via the silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1)/forkhead transcription factor (FoxO1) pathway. Interleukin (IL)-1β-treated chondrocytes that mimic OA chondrocytes were used in in vitro experiments. The optimal RES concentration was selected based on the results of chondrocyte proliferation in the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed. For the animal experiments, mice were randomly divided into the RES group (n = 15), medial meniscus destabilization group (n = 15), and sham group (n = 15), and each group received the same dose of RES or saline. Articular cartilage tissue was obtained eight weeks after surgery for relevant histological analysis. Clinical tissue test results suggest that downregulation of the SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway is associated with cholesterol buildup in OA chondrocytes. For the in vitro studies, RES increased the expression of SIRT1 and phosphorylation of FoxO1 in IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, promoted the expression of cholesterol efflux factor liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), and inhibited the expression of cholesterol synthesis-associated factor sterol-regulatory element binding proteins 2 (SREBP2). This reduced IL-1β-induced chondrocytes cholesterol accumulation. SIRT1 inhibition prevented the RES-mediated reduction in cholesterol buildup. Inhibiting FoxO1 but not SIRT1 reduced FoxO1 phosphorylation and increased cholesterol buildup in cultured chondrocytes. Additionally, in vivo experiments have shown that RES can alleviate cholesterol buildup and pathological changes in OA cartilage. Our findings suggest that RES regulates cholesterol buildup in osteoarthritic articular cartilage via the SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway, thereby improving the progression of OA.

Natural Compounds: Potential Therapeutics for the Inhibition of Cartilage Matrix Degradation in Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease characterized by enzymatic degradation of the cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) causing joint pain and disability. There is no disease-modifying drug available for the treatment of OA. An ideal drug is expected to stop cartilage ECM degradation and restore the degenerated ECM. The ECM primarily contains type II collagen and aggrecan but also has minor quantities of other collagen fibers and proteoglycans. In OA joints, the components of the cartilage ECM are degraded by matrix-degrading proteases and hydrolases which are produced by chondrocytes and synoviocytes. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 and 5 (ADAMTS5) are the major collagenase and aggrecanase, respectively, which are highly expressed in OA cartilage and promote cartilage ECM degradation. Current studies using various in vitro and in vivo approaches show that natural compounds inhibit the expression and activity of MMP-13, ADAMTS4, and ADAMTS5 and increase the expression of ECM components. In this review, we have summarized recent advancements in OA research with a focus on natural compounds as potential therapeutics for the treatment of OA with emphasis on the prevention of cartilage ECM degradation and improvement of joint health.

Overview of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Nociceptive Effects of Polyphenols to Halt Osteoarthritis: From Preclinical Studies to New Clinical Insights

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most multifactorial joint disorders in adults. It is characterized by degenerative and inflammatory processes that are responsible for joint destruction, pain and stiffness. Despite therapeutic advances, the search for alternative strategies to target inflammation and pain is still very challenging. In this regard, there is a growing body of evidence for the role of several bioactive dietary molecules (BDMs) in targeting inflammation and pain, with promising clinical results. BDMs may be valuable non-pharmaceutical solutions to treat and prevent the evolution of early OA to more severe phenotypes, overcoming the side effects of anti-inflammatory drugs. Among BDMs, polyphenols (PPs) are widely studied due to their abundance in several plants, together with their benefits in halting inflammation and pain. Despite their biological relevance, there are still many questionable aspects (biosafety, bioavailability, etc.) that hinder their clinical application. This review highlights the mechanisms of action and biological targets modulated by PPs, summarizes the data on their anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects in different preclinical in vitro and in vivo models of OA and underlines the gaps in the knowledge. Furthermore, this work reports the preliminary promising results of clinical studies on OA patients treated with PPs and discusses new perspectives to accelerate the translation of PPs treatment into the clinics.