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Matrine inhibits IL-1β-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases by suppressing the activation of MAPK and NF-κB in human chondrocytes in vitro.

Interleukin (IL)-1β plays an important role in promoting osteoarthritis (OA) lesions by inducing chondrocytes to secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which degrade the extracellular matrix and facilitate chondrocyte apoptosis. Matrine was shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, the role of matrine in OA is still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of matrine on the expression of MMPs in IL-1β-treated human chondrocytes and the underlying mechanism. The cell viability of chondrocytes was detected by MTT assay. The cell apoptosis of chondrocytes was measured by flow cytometric analysis. The protein production of MMPs was determined by ELISA. The protein expression of phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the inhibitor of kappaB alpha (IκBα) was determined by Western blot. Matrine significantly inhibited the IL-1β-induced apoptosis in chondrocytes. It also significantly inhibited the IL-1β-induced release of MMP-3 and MMP-13, and increased the production of TIMP-1. Furthermore, matrine inhibits the phosphorylation of p-38, extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and IκBα degradation induced by IL-1β in chondrocytes. Taken together, our results show that matrine inhibits IL-1β-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinases by suppressing the activation of MAPK and NF-κB in human chondrocytes in vitro. Therefore,-matrine may be beneficial in the treatment of OA.