Losartan protects against osteoarthritis by repressing the TGF-β1 signaling pathway via upregulation of PPARγ

Zhenhan Deng, MD, Ph.D; Fei Chen, Ph.D; Yuwei Liu, MD, Ph.D; Jinping Wang, Ph.D; Wei Lu, MD, Ph.D; Wei Jiang, MD, Ph.D; Weimin Zhu, MD, Ph.D

Journal of Orthopaedic Translation (Jul 2021)

Losartan protects against osteoarthritis by repressing the TGF-β1 signaling pathway via upregulation of PPARγ

Zhenhan Deng, MD, Ph.D,
Fei Chen, Ph.D,
Yuwei Liu, MD, Ph.D,
Jinping Wang, Ph.D,
Wei Lu, MD, Ph.D,
Wei Jiang, MD, Ph.D,
Weimin Zhu, MD, Ph.D

Affiliations

Zhenhan Deng, MD, Ph.D: Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China; Clinical Medical College of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510182, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
Fei Chen, Ph.D: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
Yuwei Liu, MD, Ph.D: Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
Jinping Wang, Ph.D: Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
Wei Lu, MD, Ph.D: Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China; Clinical Medical College of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510182, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China
Wei Jiang, MD, Ph.D: Bone and Joint Department, Shenzhen People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China; Corresponding author. Bone and Joint Department, Shenzhen People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology; The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Dongmen North Road, Luohu District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China.
Weimin Zhu, MD, Ph.D: Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China; Clinical Medical College of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China; Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510182, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China; Corresponding author. Department of Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Sungang West Road, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518035, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 29
pp. 30 – 41

Abstract

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Objective: Losartan and activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) have been previously reported to alleviate the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the nature of the interaction between losartan and PPARγ in OA remains elusive. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the mechanism of the regulation of PPARγ by losartan in the context of OA. Methods: Clinical samples of OA patients were collected and the chondrocytes were further isolated, and used to construct OA chondrocyte model via induction with IL-1β. An OA mouse model was developed by the surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). OA chondrocytes were treated with losartan, PPARγ siRNA and the PPAR-γ agonist GW1929 alone or in combination. Furthermore, the OA mice were treated with varying doses of losartan to determine the best mode of administration and treatment dose. Subsequently, the DMM mice were treated with losartan and GW9662. Expression of PPARγ, key proteins of the transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway and the markers of OA degeneration were evaluated by the Western blot analysis, while effects on OA inflammatory factors were determined by ELISA. Results: The downregulation of PPARγ and the upregulation of TGF-β1 signaling pathway were detected in the OA cartilage tissues and chondrocytes. Losartan treatment or PPARγ activation contributes to reduced levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2, expression of TGF-β1, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, ADAMTS-5, HtrA1, and iNOS, along with reduced Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylation, but elevated PPARγ and Collagen II expression in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, the intraarticular injection of losartan into the knee joint proved to be the best mode of administration, and 10 mg/mL being the optimal treatment concentration. Conclusion: Our results show that losartan could arrest the progression of OA by upregulating PPARγ expression and inactivating the TGF-β1 signaling pathway.The translational potential of this article: Our results provide a biological rationale for the use of losartan as a potential candidate for OA treatment.

Published in Journal of Orthopaedic Translation

ISSN: 2214-031X (Print); 2214-0328 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Hong Kong
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Specialties of internal medicine: Diseases of the musculoskeletal system
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-orthopaedic-translation/

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