Glucocorticoid induced autophagy in N1511 chondrocyte cells.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether autophagy was involved in chondrocyte cells post Glucocorticoids (GCs) treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: LC3-GFP reporter plasmid transfection and western blotting analysis were conducted to determine the autophagic vesicles and autophagy-associated molecules in the N1511 chondrocyte cells post dexamethasone (Dex) treatment. And the N1511 cell viability was also determined by MTT assay. RESULTS: We found that autophagy was induced in the N1511 chondrocyte cells post treatment with Dex of 5 µM to 1 mM, and the autophagy-induction by Dex could be inhibited by 3 MA and RU486, a GC antagonist. And the autophagy induced by the high dose of Dex (200 µM or 1 mM) was associated with a reduction of N1511 cell viability. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that GCs could induce autophagy, as might contribute to the viability reduction of chondrocyte cells.