In the present study, we tried to examine whether oleanolic acid regulates the activity, secretion and gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in primary cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes, as well as the production of MMP-3 in the knee joint of rat to evaluate the potential chondroprotective effect of oleanolic acid. Rabbit articular chondrocytes were cultured in a monolayer, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-induced gene expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4 (ADAMTS-4), ADAMTS-5 and type II collagen. In rabbit articular chondrocytes, the effects of oleanolic acid on IL-1β-induced secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3 were investigated using western blot analysis and casein zymography, respectively. The effect of oleanolic acid on in vivo MMP-3 protein production was also examined, after intra-articular injection to the knee joint of rat. The results were as follows: (1) oleanolic acid inhibited the gene expression of MMP-3, MMP-1, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4, and ADAMTS-5, but increased the gene expression of type II collagen; (2) oleanolic acid reduced the secretion and proteolytic activity of MMP-3; (3) oleanolic acid suppressed the production of MMP-3 protein in vivo. These results suggest that oleanolic acid can regulate the activity, secretion and gene expression of MMP-3, by directly acting on articular chondrocytes.
Keywords: Chondrocytes; MMPs; Oleanolic acid; Osteoarthritis.