J Appl Biomed 14:307-314, 2016 | DOI: 10.1016/j.jab.2016.05.001

Carnosol ameliorates monosodium iodoacetate-induced osteoarthritis by targeting NF-κB and Nrf-2 in primary rat chondrocytes

Jun Wang^a, Guang Yang^b, Yong-Xin Hua^c, Tao Sun^d, Chen Gao^e, Qing Xia^e, Bin Li^c,*

^a Department of Joint Surgery, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Province 261041, China

^b Department of Joint Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China

^c Department of Orthopedics, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250000, China

^d Department of Breast & Thyroid Surgery, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China

^e Department of Medical Devices, Jinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China

Oxidative stress and NF-κB signaling plays a major role in pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. In the present study, we analyzed the potent role of carnosol against osteoarthritis in cells treated using monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) model through in vitro studies. MIA caused dose-dependent cell death and induced programmed cell death by increasing subG1 accumulation and caspase-3 expressions. MIA caused oxidative stress by increasing reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and further induced NF-κB expression and down regulated Nrf-2 levels. Pre-treatment with carnosol significantly protected the cells by reducing the oxidative stress markers and improved the cell viability up to 98%. Further, carnosol down regulated NF-κB nuclear expression with a concomitant increase in Nrf-2 nuclear localization and up regulated the nuclear Nrf-2 levels. Carnosol also inhibited MIA-induced subG1 accumulation and caspase-3 activation. This study demonstrates that, carnosol might act as potent antioxidant and regulate MIA-induced oxidative stress, NF-κB signaling and programmed cell death by up regulating the Nrf-2 levels.

Keywords: Osteoarthritis; Oxidative stress; NF-κB; Nrf-2; Carnosol; ROS; Programmed cell death

Received: November 26, 2015; Revised: May 1, 2016; Accepted: May 4, 2016; Published: November 1, 2016  Show citation