Oleanolic acid targets the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and activates autophagy in chondrocytes to improve osteoarthritis in rats

Yue Yu; Tianwen Ma; Liangyu Lv; Lina Jia; Hongri Ruan; Hong Chen; Jiantao Zhang; Li Gao

Journal of Functional Foods (Jul 2022)

Oleanolic acid targets the regulation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and activates autophagy in chondrocytes to improve osteoarthritis in rats

Yue Yu,
Tianwen Ma,
Liangyu Lv,
Lina Jia,
Hongri Ruan,
Hong Chen,
Jiantao Zhang,
Li Gao

Affiliations

Yue Yu: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Tianwen Ma: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Liangyu Lv: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Lina Jia: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Hongri Ruan: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Hong Chen: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Jiantao Zhang: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China
Li Gao: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Pathogenesis and Comparative Medicine in Heilongjiang Province, Harbin, China; Corresponding author at: College of Animal Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150036, China.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 94
p. 105144

Abstract

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Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease that seriously affects an individual's quality of life. Oleanolic acid (OLA) is widely present in food and medicinal plants and has various pharmacological activities. Autophagy is an intracellular protective mechanism, and this study aimed to investigate the potential role of OLA targeting the autophagy pathway in the pathogenesis of OA. A rat OA model was established in vivo by intra-articular injection of Monosodium Iodoacetate (MIA), followed by ELISA, Western blot analysis, and behavioral assays. The results showed that OLA improved OA pain symptoms and inhibit cartilage degeneration. In vitro, OLA inhibited the secretion of inflammatory factors and matrix metalloproteinases in ATDC5 cells after induction with IL-1β (10 ng/mL). Meanwhile, Dansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), mRFP-GFP-LC3 immunofluorescence, Western blot analysis and RT-qPCR confirmed that OLA activates autophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In conclusion, OLA shows promise in the treatment of OA.

Published in Journal of Functional Foods

ISSN: 1756-4646 (Print); 2214-9414 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Home economics: Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-functional-foods

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