Bone morphogenetic protein 2 stimulates articular cartilage proteoglycan synthesis in vivo but does not counteract interleukin‐1α effects on proteoglycan synthesis and content

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective. To study the effect of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) on articular cartilage proteoglycan (PG) synthesis in vivo and to investigate whether BMP-2 is able to counteract the effects of interleukin-1 (IL-1) on articular cartilage PG synthesis and content. Methods. BMP-2 alone or in combination with IL-1α was injected into murine knee joints. PG synthesis was measured by 35S-sulfate incorporation using an ex vivo method or autoradiography. Cartilage PG content was analyzed by measuring Safranin O staining intensity on histologic sections. Results. BMP-2 appeared to be a potent stimulator of articular cartilage PG synthesis in vivo. However, BMP-2 was not able to counteract the deleterious effects of IL-1α on articular cartilage PG synthesis and content. In addition, intraarticular injections of BMP-2 induced chondrophytes. Conclusion. Although BMP-2 is a very potent stimulator of cartilage PG synthesis in vivo, the therapeutic applications of BMP-2 are limited due to the inability of BMP-2 to counteract the effects of IL-1 and the induction of chondrophytes.

This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit: