T cells regulate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase in human osteoblasts via a dual mitogen-activated protein kinase mechanism.
ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM 2003;
48:993-1001. [PMID:
12687541 DOI:
10.1002/art.10872]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of T cell induction of matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP-13) production by human osteoblasts in order to better understand the process of bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS
Activated T cell-conditioned medium (ACTTCM) was used to mimic the physiologic conditions of inflammation. MMP-13 production by human osteoblasts was assessed using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Specific inhibitors of the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK-1/2) MAP kinase signaling pathways were used to assess their roles in T cell-mediated MMP-13 production. Finally, recombinant cytokines representative of the major components in ACTTCM were assessed for their ability to induce MMP-13.
RESULTS
ACTTCM powerfully induced MMP-13 in human osteoblasts. Inhibition of p38 activity abolished, while inhibition of ERK-1/2 activity enhanced, MMP-13 production. We next investigated physiologic levels of the T cell cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), and interleukin-17 (IL-17) for their roles in MMP-13 induction. Although individual cytokines had no significant effect, the combination of TNFalpha, TGFbeta, IFNgamma, and IL-17 resulted in a dramatic p38-dependent induction of MMP-13 identical to that produced by ACTTCM.
CONCLUSION
These studies demonstrate for the first time that human osteoblasts produce MMP-13. The results also show that under conditions of chronic inflammation, multiple T cell cytokines synergize to induce high levels of MMP-13 via a mechanism that is dependent on activated p38 MAP kinase and is suppressed by activated ERK-1/2. Selective inhibition of p38 activity may offer a target for pharmacologic inhibition of bone loss in RA.
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