Abstract:
Objective: Recent observations demonstrated that reactive oxygen species facilitate cartilage degradation. We demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) caused inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis, induction of apoptosis and stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) of the chondrocytes (Inflamm Res 48: 399-403, 1999). To determine whether activation of ERK is involved in the induction of chondrocyte apoptosis, we examined the signal transduction pathways in this hydrogen peroxide induced apoptosis.¶Design: Bovine articular chondrocytes were cultured. To determine the induction of apoptosis, Annexin V staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase were used. The activity of caspase-3 was measured using an apopain assay kit. Intracellular Ca2+ imaging was observed after fura2-AM loading.¶Results: Hydrogen peroxide enhanced annexin V positive apoptotic cells and caspase-3 activity, which is an executor of apoptosis. Hydrogen peroxide also enhanced intracellular Ca2+ and preincubation with the intracellular Ca2+ chelator protected chondrocytes against hydrogen peroxide-induced cell apoptosis, indicating that an increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ plays a decisive role in this action. When ERK activity was blocked with geldanamycin and PD098059, increased apoptosis was evident.¶Conclusion: Hydrogen peroxide induces chondrocyte apoptosis via Ca2+ signaling, and ERK is involved in these signal transduction pathways.¶
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Received 9 March 2000; returned for revision 1 May 2000; accepted by W.B. van den Berg 24 August 2000
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Asada, S., Fukuda, K., Nishisaka, F. et al. Hydrogen peroxide induces apoptosis of chondrocytes; involvement of calcium ion and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase. Inflamm. res. 50, 19–23 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050719
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s000110050719