Stassen RHMJ, van den Akker GGH, Surtel DAM, Housmans BAC, Cremers A, Caron MMJ, Smagul A, Peffers MJ, van Rhijn LW, Welting TJM. Unravelling the Basic Calcium Phosphate crystal-dependent chondrocyte protein secretome; a role for TGF-β signaling.
Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2023;
31:1035-1046. [PMID:
37075856 DOI:
10.1016/j.joca.2023.02.079]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
Basic Calcium Phosphate (BCP) crystals play an active role in the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). However, the cellular consequences remain largely unknown. Therefore, we characterized for the first time the changes in the protein secretome of human OA articular chondrocytes as a result of BCP stimulation using two unbiased proteomic analysis methods.
METHOD
Isolated human OA articular chondrocytes were stimulated with BCP crystals and examined by Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) after twenty-four and forty-eight hours. Forty-eight hours conditioned media were analyzed by label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and an antibody array. The activity of BCP dependent Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) signaling was analyzed by RT-qPCR and luciferase reporter assays. The molecular consequences regarding BCP-dependent TGF-β signaling on BCP-dependent Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were investigated using specific pathway inhibitors.
RESULTS
Synthesized BCP crystals induced IL-6 expression and secretion upon stimulation of human articular chondrocytes. Concomitant induction of catabolic gene expression was observed. Analysis of conditioned media revealed a complex and diverse response with a large number of proteins involved in TGF-β signaling, both in activation of latent TGF-β and TGF-β superfamily members, which were increased compared to non-stimulated OA chondrocytes. Activity of this BCP driven TGF-β signaling was confirmed by increased activity of expression of TGF-β target genes and luciferase reporters. Inhibition of BCP driven TGF-β signaling resulted in decreased IL-6 expression and secretion with a moderate effect on catabolic gene expression.
CONCLUSION
BCP crystal stimulation resulted in a complex and diverse chondrocyte protein secretome response. An important role for BCP-dependent TGF-β signaling was identified in development of a pro-inflammatory environment.
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