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Zhou Y, Zhao Y, Wu Y, Chen J, Wu H, Wei W, Yan S. Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate Rat Knee Osteoarthritis via Activating Wnt/ β-catenin Signaling Pathway. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:234-244. [PMID: 37132309 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230428094400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease characterized by joint cartilage degeneration, destruction, and osteogenic hyperplasia. Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) have attracted increasing research interest due to their high clonogenic, proliferative, and migratory potential, as well as their improved secretion of relevant chondrogenic factors. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential and underlying mechanism of hUC-MSCs in alleviating pathological symptoms of OA. METHODS For the in vivo study, OA rats were established by the Hulth method to observe the therapeutic effect of intra-articular injection of hUC-MSCs. X-ray tests, gross observations, and histological and immunohistochemical assessments were conducted in rats. Levels of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 in rats' synovial fluid were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. For the in vitro study, hUC-MSCs and chondrocytes were cultured to explore the effect and underlying mechanisms of hUC-MSCs on OA. Apoptosis, proliferation, and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) were measured in the chondrocytes. The relative expression of aggrecan, COL-2, and SOX-9 mRNA was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Expressions of Wnt/β-catenin signaling molecules were measured by Western blot. RESULTS We found that intra-articular injection of hUC-MSCs reduced the combined score, increased the expression of collagen II, and decreased the expression of MMP-13, IL-1β, and IL-6 in rat knee joints. Additionally, hUC-MSCs increased the content of GAGs, inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis, and promoted chondrocyte proliferation. The expression of aggrecan, COL-2, and SOX-9 mRNA in chondrocytes was promoted by hUC-MSCs via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Overall, this study demonstrated that hUC-MSCs induce the secretion of some cytokines via the paracrine function to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to reduce the pathological condition of OA and maintain the proper expression of cytokines and extracellular matrix proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- The First Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, 232007, China
| | - Yingjie Zhao
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Yujiao Wu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jingyu Chen
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Huaxun Wu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Shangxue Yan
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230032, China
- Anti-inflammatory Immune Drug Collaborative Innovation Center, Hefei, 230032, Anhui Province, China
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230032, China
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