Investigation of punicic acid effects on matrix metalloproteinase genes expression in bovine fibroblast like-synoviocytes as a model of osteoarthritis

Background: osteoarthritis [OA] is a progressive, age-associated disease that is characterized with cartilage destruction, subchondral bone remodeling and inflammation of the synovial membrane. Considering the complications of common treatments of OA, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAIDs] and corticosteroids, investigating new treatments for this disorder is crucial. Recently, the role of matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] expression in pathogenesis of OA has attracted attention

---

Objective: this study aimed to explore the effect of punicic acid [PA] in inhibition of MMPs gene expression in LPS-stimulated Bovine Fibroblast-like synoviocytes [BFLS] as a model of OA

---

Methods: in the first stage, the toxicity of PA was measured using MTT assay on BFLS cells. Afterward, the cells were stimulated by LPS [Lipopolysaccharide] and MMPs [Matrix Metalloproteinase] expression level in the BFLS cells were investigated using Real-Time PCR, in vitro Migration and Gelatin Zymography, Western Blot Analysis, ELISA Assay and Invasion Assay

---

Results: the results showed that PA significantly decreased MMP-9 expression levels in LPS stimulated BFLS cells; also, it suppressed migration and invasion of the mentioned cells. However, PA had no significant effect on MMP-1-2-3

---

Conclusion: based on our results PA could significantly reduce the activity and inflammatory effect of MMP-9 in OA, its potential role as a supplementary agent to common NSAIDs and corticosteroids was confirmed. Nonetheless, cellular modeling does not significantly confirm the beneficial effect of OA in patients