Melatonin enhances cartilage matrix synthesis by porcine articular chondrocytes

J Pineal Res. 2009 Mar;46(2):181-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-079X.2008.00646.x. Epub 2008 Nov 19.

Abstract

To develop a minimally invasive preventive measure for early osteoarthritis, the effect of melatonin on cartilage matrix synthesis of articular chondrocytes was evaluated in vitro in a pellet culture system. The chondrogenic markers were assessed using histology, TaqMan polymerase chain reaction, and western blot. Our results show that melatonin treatment yielded chondrocyte-pellets with a higher expression of chondrogenic markers consisting of collagen II, Sox 9, and aggrecan at both the mRNA and protein levels. A hypertrophic marker, collagen X, remained low. Moreover, up-regulation of internal transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) expression was observed in the melatonin-treated cells. Our data indicate, for the first time, that the administration of melatonin enhances cartilage matrix synthesis of articular chondrocytes in a serum-containing pellet culture system, likely through the TGF-beta signal pathway. Melatonin may prove to be a highly valuable addition to current therapeutic models for degenerative cartilage repair.

MeSH terms

  • Aggrecans / biosynthesis
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Cartilage, Articular / cytology
  • Cartilage, Articular / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chondrocytes / cytology
  • Chondrocytes / metabolism*
  • Collagen Type II / biosynthesis
  • Collagen Type X / biosynthesis
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism*
  • Melatonin / pharmacology*
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor / biosynthesis
  • Swine
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / biosynthesis
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Aggrecans
  • Antioxidants
  • Collagen Type II
  • Collagen Type X
  • RNA, Messenger
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Melatonin